Consider a neutral conducting sphere. A positive point charge is placed outside the sphere. The net charge on the sphere is then,
- (A)negative and distributed uniformly over the surface of the sphere
- (B)negative and appears only at the point on the sphere closest to the point charge
- (C)negative and distributed non-uniformly over the entire surface of the sphere
- (D)zero✓ Correct
Answer: (D)
Solution
A neutral conducting sphere remains neutral even when a positive point charge is placed outside it. The external charge induces a redistribution of charges on the sphere (negative charges move toward the side facing the point charge, positive charges move to the far side), but the net charge on the sphere remains zero. The sphere is still electrically neutral overall.
JEE Advanced · 2007 · 08 Apr 2007 · Paper 1 · Single correct option