# Proof of charge existence on a grounded conductor

A question regarding the existence of charge on grounded conductors is confusing me.

Could there be charge on a grounded conductor? How does this not contradict Gauss's Law?

Since every conductor has some capacitance attributed to it, doesn't the existence of charge on a grounded conductor contradicts the equation: $Q = C*V$ ?

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"ground" is an ambiguity... It's where you define V to be zero... But the physical quantity is Potential difference. –  Chris Gerig Aug 9 '12 at 22:18
Possible duplicate: physics.stackexchange.com/q/15827/2451 –  Qmechanic Aug 9 '12 at 22:51
The answers doesn't provide a proof, nor does it answer the capacitor's equation –  alqubaisi Aug 9 '12 at 23:58
What does Gauss's law have anything to do with zero potential, i.e., grounded? –  C.R. Sep 9 '12 at 15:16

The earth can be considered like a large spheric conductor of capacity C1. When you ground something whose capacity is C2, the electric charges move from one conductor to the other: The equations are:

Q1+Q2=Q'1+Q'2

V'1=V'2=V

Q'1=C1*V Q'2=C2*V

The Earth electric capacity is so huge that unless you do microelectronics, you can consider all the charges have flown to it.

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