# Homework Help: Electric Field and Potential due to Induced Charges

1. Dec 23, 2015

### gracy

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
If there is an uncharged metal spherical body and a charge q outside it .Find Electric field due to induced charges.

2. Relevant equations
$E$=$\frac{Kq}{r^2}$

3. The attempt at a solution
If there is an uncharged metal spherical body and a charge q outside it then there will be induced charges on it's surface like this

Electric field inside the body should be zero.Electric field due to +q would be $E$=$\frac{Kq}{r^2}$ there fore Electric field due to induced charges should be equal in magnitude to that of $E$=$\frac{Kq}{r^2}$ and opposite in direction.But my question is this electric field due to induced charges is due to +q induced or -q induced?

2. Dec 23, 2015

### SammyS

Staff Emeritus
What does the question ask you to do? "Find Electric field due to induced charges." That must include all of the charges mentioned with the exception of the given charge, +q.

3. Dec 23, 2015

### gracy

And what if we are asked to find electric field due to +q induced?

4. Dec 23, 2015

### SammyS

Staff Emeritus
The induced charge is distributed over the surface with varying density. It would be a very involved process to find the electric field due to +qinduced by itself or the electric field due to -qinduced by itself.

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