Charge surrounded by charged conducting sphere

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A spherical conducting shell with total charge q surrounds a charge of –2q at its center. The inner surface of the shell will have a charge of +2q, induced by the negative charge at the center. Consequently, the outer surface of the shell will have a charge of –q, balancing the total charge of the shell. Gauss's Law confirms that the charge on the inner surface must equal the magnitude and opposite sign of the central charge. This results in a clear distribution of charges on both surfaces of the conducting shell.
iriver4
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A spherical conducting shell with charge total q surrounds a charge –2q at the center of the shell. The
charges on the inner and outer surfaces of the shell are respectively

I know that if the conducting sphere has no charge the inner and outer charges would be +2q, and -2q respectively but how does q play in this problem ?
 
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iriver4 said:
A spherical conducting shell with charge total q surrounds a charge –2q at the center of the shell. The
charges on the inner and outer surfaces of the shell are respectively

I know that if the conducting sphere has no charge the inner and outer charges would be +2q, and -2q respectively but how does q play in this problem ?
Do you know how to explain the case:
if the conducting sphere has no charge the inner and outer charges would be +2q, and -2q respectively​
?
 
SammyS said:
Do you know how to explain the case:
if the conducting sphere has no charge the inner and outer charges would be +2q, and -2q respectively​
?

Sorry this is another scenario where the conducting sphere has no charge. I want to know what happens if the conducting sphere has a charge of q. How does that affect the inner and outer charges ?
 
iriver4 said:
Sorry this is another scenario where the conducting sphere has no charge. I want to know what happens if the conducting sphere has a charge of q. How does that affect the inner and outer charges ?
In order to explain the case:
if the conducting sphere has a charge of q. How does that affect the inner and outer charges ?​
I need to know if you understand the reasoning involved in the case where the sphere is uncharged.
 
SammyS said:
In order to explain the case:
if the conducting sphere has a charge of q. How does that affect the inner and outer charges ?​
I need to know if you understand the reasoning involved in the case where the sphere is uncharged.

Because the positive charge would induce a negative charge on the inner surface of the shell and the outer shell would have a positive induced charged. Thats how it was explained to me
 
iriver4 said:
Because the positive charge would induce a negative charge on the inner surface of the shell and the outer shell would have a positive induced charged. Thats how it was explained to me
Do you know Gauss's Law? Using it tells us that charge on the inner surface of the conducting shell must be equal in magnitude, and opposite in sign to the charge at the center.
 
SammyS said:
Do you know Gauss's Law? Using it tells us that charge on the inner surface of the conducting shell must be equal in magnitude, and opposite in sign to the charge at the center.

So then the charge at the inner circle would be +2q and since the outer shell has a charge of q the charge outside would be equal and opposite giving us -q. Right ? Sorry I took so long have 4 finals to study for =/
 
iriver4 said:
So then the charge at the inner circle would be +2q and since the outer shell has a charge of q the charge outside would be equal and opposite giving us -q. Right ? Sorry I took so long have 4 finals to study for =/
Yes, that is correct.
 
SammyS said:
Yes, that is correct.

Thank you
 
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