Capacitance of an isolated conducting sphere of radius $R_{1}$ becomes $n$ times when it is enclosed by a concentric conducting sphere of radius $R_{2}$ connected to earth. The ratio of their radii $\left(\frac{ R _{2}}{ R _{1}}\right)$ is:

A spherical condenser has inner and outer spheres of radii $a$ and $b$ respectively. The space between the two is filled with air. The difference between the capacities of two condensers formed when outer sphere is earthed and when inner sphere is earthed will be

The capacity of parallel plate condenser depends on

The magnitude of electric field $E$ in the annular region of a charged cylindrical capacitor

Answer the following:

$(a)$ The top of the atmosphere is at about $400\; kV$ with respect to the surface of the earth, corresponding to an electric field that decreases with altitude. Near the surface of the earth, the field is about $100\; Vm ^{-1} .$ Why then do we not get an electric shock as we step out of our house into the open? (Assume the house to be a steel cage so there is no field inside!)

$(b)$ A man fixes outside his house one evening a two metre high insulating slab carrying on its top a large aluminium sheet of area $1\; m ^{2} .$ Will he get an electric shock if he touches the metal sheet next morning?

$(c)$ The discharging current in the atmosphere due to the small conductivity of air is known to be $1800 \;A$ on an average over the globe. Why then does the atmosphere not discharge itself completely in due course and become electrically neutral? In other words, what keeps the atmosphere charged?

$(d)$ What are the forms of energy into which the electrical energy of the atmosphere is dissipated during a lightning? (The earth has an electric field of about $100\; Vm ^{-1}$ at its surface in the downward direction, corresponding to a surface charge density $=-10^{-9} \;C \,m ^{-2} .$ Due to the slight conductivity of the atmosphere up to about $50\; km$ (beyond which it is good conductor), about $+1800 \;C$ is pumped every second into the earth as a whole. The earth, however, does not get discharged since thunderstorms and lightning occurring continually all over the globe pump an equal amount of negative charge on the earth.)