Need knowledgeable physicists [elec & mag] - Page 2

gyth

657 Posts

October 06 2010 00:49 GMT

#21

I just wish they would have asked what the final charge distribution looked like in a clear manner

If a net charge of 6Q is placed on the conducting shell, how does this charge distribute itself on the inner and outer surfaces of the shell?

Would that have been more clear?

I'd be careful when complaining that your teacher is bad at asking (ridiculously) easy questions.

Hizzo

United States193 Posts

October 06 2010 03:07 GMT

#22

Hizzo

United States193 Posts

October 06 2010 03:10 GMT

#23

On October 06 2010 09:49 gyth wrote:

Show nested quote +

I was thinking more along the lines of:

If a charge of 6Q is placed on the conducting shell, the shell has the charge distribution:

or

What is the distribution of charge on the shell after a net charge of 6Q is placed on the conducting shell?

I thought it was easy too. I thought C was supposed to be a trick answer because it was too easy and then I read the second sentence again and hit the part "If a net charge of 6Q is placed on the conducting shell, how does this charge distribute itself on the inner and outer surfaces of the shell?" and I was like "Oh, he almost got me."

I guess he did get me. Lol.

N.geNuity

United States5112 Posts

October 06 2010 13:57 GMT

#24

edit- actually nvm. I dunno.

Sasquatch

Canada126 Posts

October 06 2010 17:36 GMT

#25

While I agree with the general sentiment that the way this is worded, the question is a bit ambiguous, I think, in the end, I have to agree with the professor's interpretation of it.

The question essentially is "How is the charge distributed between the inner and outer surfaces of the shell?" Which, to me, implies describing the charge on the inner and outer sphere. I think you over-thought the question in a clear attempt to be clever, but ultimately I think you still are wrong. If the question had asked "If no excess charges are on the conducting shell, how does this charge distribute itself on the inner and outer surfaces?" I think you would immediately have answered +Q and -Q. I don't know why you think it would be any different with 0 replaced with a +6.

While I sympathize with your dilemma, I still think that D is the fabled "best" answer in this case.

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