Final answer:
Upon contact, two identical conducting spheres with different charges will redistribute the total charge equally between them. If Sphere A has -5 nC and Sphere B has -3 nC, each will end up with -4 nC after they are separated.
Step-by-step explanation:
Charge Distribution on Conducting Spheres
When two identical conducting spheres with different charges are connected with a conducting wire, they reach an electrostatic equilibrium. The charges on both spheres will redistribute such that each sphere ends up with the same amount of charge due to the nature of conductors allowing free movement of electrons. For instance, if Sphere A has a charge of –5 nC (nanoCoulombs) and Sphere B has a charge of –3 nC and they are brought together to touch, the total charge of –8 nC is shared equally between the two spheres upon separation, leaving them each with a charge of –4 nC.
It's essential to note that if the spheres have excess protons instead of electrons, the principle is the same, although protons do not move in the metal; only electrons move to balance out the positive charges effectively.