Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach with Modern Physics (3rd Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321740904
ISBN 13: 978-0-32174-090-8

Chapter 27 - Gauss's Law - Exercises and Problems - Page 807: 37

Answer

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Work Step by Step

Let's assume that the dashed circle in the figures below is a Gaussian surface. The positive charge in the cavity will pull the free electrons inside the neutral conductor toward it, as we see in the first figure below. The net charge inside this Gaussian surface is then zero since the electrons pulled toward the positive charge are creating the same charge magnitude. This means that the outer surface of the conductor will be positively charged by the same amount of +100 nC since the inner surface of the conductor is charged by -100 nC. Now after adding the -50 nC charge to the conductor, the outer surface of the conductor will be affected by that and will have a net charge of +50 nC while the inner walls net charge remains -100 nC. $$\color{blue}{\bf [a]}$$ $$Q_{inner}=\color{red}{\bf -100}\;\rm nC$$ $$\color{blue}{\bf [b]}$$ $$Q_{outer}=\color{red}{\bf +50}\;\rm nC$$
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