Question

The conductor is initially electrically neutral, and then a charge +q is placed at the center of the hollow space. Suppose the conductor initially has a net charge of +9q instead of being neutral. What is the total charge on the interior and on the exterior surface when the +q charge is placed at the center? Please explain the answer as well..

Answer 1

Hi there!

If a +q charge is placed in the center of a hollow conductor, a charge of -q will be induced in the interior of the shell.

Thus, with the conservation of charge:

`q_(outer) + q_(inner) = q_(total)\\\\q_(outer) - q = 9q`

Solve for the outer charge:

`q_(outer) = q + 9q = 10q`

Therefore, the INTERIOR has charge -q and EXTERIOR has charge 10q.