Published Paper Details:

The concept of potential is not very clear among the undergraduates they often make vague mistakes in using the concept of potential in electrostatic problems. One of the things that are taken as granted is that the potential of Earth is zero. Actually there is nothing as zero potential. Electric potential is rightly viewed when it is compared with height as in gravitational field. Just as for defining height we need a reference point from where we start measuring height for defining electric potential we need a reference point where the potential is zero. So why do we take the potential of Earth as zero? So, here in this paper I have addressed this question from a mathematical point of view. Where i have taken two spheres one charged (which is the smaller sphere) and one uncharged (which is the bigger one). Then I have assumed the bigger sphere as the earth where the radius of the earth is very large as compared to the radius of the sphere. And then came to a conclusion that indeed the potential of the earth is zero.