Solving Electrostatics Problems: Contact of Neutral & Charged Spheres

[apnut821]

Hi, i have been assigned a series of problems that basically follow the same pattern, but I am unable to solve the first one which is making it difficult to solve the others.

here it is

An insulated metal sphere (X), that has no net charge (neutral), is brought into contact with a similar sphere (Y) that has a charge of +1.80 E -16 C. The two spheres are the separated. a) What is the total charge of the system before and after separation? b) What are the charges of spheres X and Y after separation?

thanks

 

[member 553083]

!a) Before separation, the total charge of the system is 0 C. After separation, the total charge of the system is +1.80 E -16 C. b) After separation, sphere X has a charge of 0 C and sphere Y has a charge of +1.80 E -16 C.