Answer to Question #290225 in Electricity and Magnetism for Chemistry

Question

A solid copper sphere has a net positive charge. The charge is distributed uniformly over the surface of the sphere, and the electric field inside the sphere is zero. Then a negative point charge outside the sphere is brought close to the surface of the sphere. Is all the net charge on the sphere still on its surface? If so, is this charge still distributed uniformly over the surface? If it is not uniform, how is it distributed? Is the electric field inside the sphere still zero? In each case justify your answers.

Answer 1

Yes, the charges will not be distributed uniformly over the surface but the the position charges will be attracted towards the surface where a negative charge is brought. The electric field charges is zero, since the presence or absence of any external charge nearby cannot change its total charge.