Question

A negative charge -Q is placed inside the cavity of a hollow metal solid. The outside of the solid is grounded by connecting a conducting wire between it and the earth. Is any excess charge induced on the inner surface of the metal? Is there any excess charge on the outside surface of the metal? Why or why not? Would someone outside the solid measure an electric field due to the charge -Q? Is it reasonable to say that the grounded conductor has shielded the region outside the conductor from the effects of the charge -Q? In principle, could the same thing be done for gravity? Why or why not?

Answer 1

Answer:

a)  + Q charge is inducce that compensates for the internal charge

b) There is no excess charge on the external face q_net = 0

c) E=0

Explanation:

Let's analyze the situation when a negative charge is placed inside the cavity, it repels the other negative charges, leaving the necessary positive charges to compensate for the -Q charge. The electrons that migrated to the outer part of the sphere, as it is connected to the ground, can pass to the earth and remain on the planet; therefore on the outside of the sphere the net charge remains zero.

With this analysis we can answer the specific questions

a)  + Q charge is inducce that compensates for the internal charge

b) There is no excess charge on the external face q_net = 0

c) If we create a Gaussian surface on the outside of the sphere the net charge on the inside of this sphere is zero, therefore there is no electric field, on the outside

d) If it is very reasonable and this system configuration is called a Faraday Cage

e) We cannot apply this principle to gravity since there are no particles that repel, in all cases the attractive forces.