6-4-10 Point of equilibrium?

At the center or a neutral hollow metallic shell, a point charge is placed

Is it a point of equilibrium? if yes what kind of equilibrium?

5 Answers

106
Asish Mahapatra ·

stable equilibrium (i hope)

66
kaymant ·

Hint:
http://targetiit.com/iit-jee-forum/posts/equilibrium-11805.html

1
Anirudh Kumar ·

sir
is this line of thought correct.

the particle is in unstable equilibrium as if we displace the particle induced opp. charges on the surface near point charge increase ,thus pulling it .

1
xYz ·

it is in neutral equilibrium

106
Asish Mahapatra ·

I mistook the position of the induced charges.. in #2

When the charge at the center is displaced, the charges induced in the outer surface of the shell are uniformly distributed while in the inner surface, charges of the opposite sign will develop (but not uniformly)

Due to outer surface charges, E = 0

while due to inner surface charges, they will attract the charge in the direction of displacement/

So the equilbrium is unstable

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