An uncharged spherical conducting shell surrounds a charge - q at the center of the shell. Then charge + 3q is placed on the outside of the shell.

When static equilibrium is reached, the charges on the inner and outer surfaces of the shell are respectively:

a) + q, - q

b) - q, + q

c) + q, + 2q

d) + 2q, + q

Question

Physics

Nathaly

3 November, 08:03

An uncharged spherical conducting shell surrounds a charge - q at the center of the shell. Then charge + 3q is placed on the outside of the shell.

When static equilibrium is reached, the charges on the inner and outer surfaces of the shell are respectively:

a) + q, - q

b) - q, + q

c) + q, + 2q

d) + 2q, + q

+2

Answers (1)

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Clare Kemp · Answer 1

a) The the charges on the inner and outer surfaces of the shell are respectively + q, - q

Explanation:

Under static equilibrium inside a conductor, the total electric field, E = 0

This must be zero so that no charge will be moving since the conductor is in static equilibrium.

Also, since Electric field, E is zero, then flux through the surface will zero.

From Gauss' law, the total charge enclosed is zero.

Given - q as the charge at the center of the shell, then the opposite charge on inner surfaces will be + q, so that the total charge enclosed will be zero.

Since the charge is in static equilibrium, then opposite charge will be on the surface, that is - q.

Therefore, the the charges on the inner and outer surfaces of the shell are respectively + q, - q