Question

In between two point charges a conducting spherical shell having charge $\text{Q}$ is placed as shown in the diagram. Assuming all charges to be positive, mark out the correct statement.

• A. the charge on outer surface of shell is uniformly distributed
• B. the charge on outer surface of shell is non-uniformly distributed
• C. the information is insufficient to find the nature of charge distribution on the outer surface
• D. none of these

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

To solve this question we have to use the concept that "the resultant electric field at any point inside a conducting shell due to all outside charges is zero, " and that "E at any internal point due to uniformly charged conducting spherical shell is zero."
Consider any point P inside the shell, at P the resultant electric field due to I, II and charge on outer surface of shell must be zero.



$E_P=E_I+E_{II}+E_{outersurfacecharge}=0$
But ${\text{E}}_{\text{I}}+{\text{E}}_{\text{II}}\ne 0$ . So ${\text{E}}_{\text{outer surface charge}}\ne 0$ it means charge distribution is outer surface of shell is non-uniform.