Re: Surface charge distribution

["Spagna Jr., George" <gspagna@RMC.EDU>]

Hasan asks:

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Fakhruddin, Hasanbhai [mailto:hfakhrud@BSU.EDU]
> Sent: Tuesday, December 03, 2002 7:28 PM
> To: PHYS-L@lists.nau.edu
> Subject: Surface charge distribution


> 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?  

> Thanks,

> Hasan Fakhruddin

Use Gauss's law to convince yourself that the charge on the outer surface is uniformly distributed.  (Conducting shell does not support any electric field, so the outer surface "knows nothing" about the details of the interior charge distribution.)  The induced surface charge on the inner surface of the shell is not uniformly distributed.

********************************************
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George Spagna
Department of Physics
Randolph-Macon College
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