Re: Surface charge distribution

[Herbert H Gottlieb <herbgottlieb@JUNO.COM>]

On Tue, 03 Dec 2002 20:41:10 -0500 Bob LaMontagne
<rlamont@POSTOFFICE.PROVIDENCE.EDU> writes:
> "Fakhruddin, Hasanbhai" wrote:
>
> > Hello Everyone!
> >
> > Need help with the following conceptual problem:
> >
> > A conducting shell is initially neutral.  A point charge +q is
> placed
> > OFF CENTER inside the cavity.  Is the charge induced on its outer
> > surface symmetric or asymmetric?  =20
> >
> > Thanks,=20
>
> The charges attracted to the inner wall produce a field that
> completely
> cancels the field of the point charge. The resulting charges on the
> outer
> surface will be symmetrically arranged because no force operates on
> them
> from within. It's the field from these outside charges that is seen
> by
> the outside world and this field acts like that of a point charge at
> the
> center.
>
> Bob at PC