A generalization of the Shell Theorem. Electric potential of charged spheres and charged vesicles surrounded by electrolyte

Abstract

By using the screened Coulomb potential a generalized version of Newton’s Shell Theorem is developed and analytical equations are derived to calculate i) the potential of a charged sphere surrounded by electrolyte, ii) the potential of two concentric charged spheres surrounded by electrolyte, and iii) the potential inside the membrane of a charged lipid vesicle surrounded by electrolyte with high ion concentration. By numerical integration the potential of a lipid vesicle is calculated at any electrolyte concentration.

Keywords

• membrane potential
• debye-hückel equation
• screened potential
• debye length