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Consider three identical metal spheres, A, B, and C. Sphere A carries a charge o

ID: 1314426 • Letter: C

Question

Consider three identical metal spheres, A, B, and C. Sphere A carries a charge of +4q. Sphere B carries a charge of +3q. Sphere C carries no net charge. Spheres A and B are touched together and then separated. Sphere C is then touched to sphere A and separated from it. Last, sphere C is touched to sphere B and separated from it. For the following questions, express your answers in terms of q. How much charge ends up on sphere C?

For the answer I get 3.5q but it is not right. And I know that before and after the spheres touch the total charge is 7q.

Explanation / Answer

The charges will equalize so they balance whenever they are in contact

total charge of the 3 spheres together is 7q

when A touches B the net charge between them is 7 so 3.5q stays on A and leaving B at 3.5 q

when you touch A to C ... A has 3.5 q and C has 0 so total is 3.5 q that means A will have 1.75q and C will gain 1.75q.....

C= 1.75q and B= 3.5q When you touch them then total charge is 5.25q so each would be left with C = B = 2.625q


a) C = 2.625q (Answer)