Potential Energy of a System of Multiple Point Charges
A small uncha...
Question
A small uncharged metallic sphere is positioned exactly at a point midway between two equal and opposite point charges separated by very small distance. If the spheres is slightly displaced towards the positive charge and released, then-
A
It will oscillate about it's original position.
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B
It will move further towards the positive charge.
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C
Its potential energy will decrease and kinetic energy will increase.
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D
The total energy remains constant but is non-zero.
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Solution
The correct options are B It will move further towards the positive charge. C The total energy remains constant but is non-zero. D Its potential energy will decrease and kinetic energy will increase. The charges are induced in sphere as shown in above figure. Since distance between the negative induced charge and positive charge decreases, force increases and thus it keeps moving towards the positive charge. Electric forces are conservative so total energy doesn't change, and since kinetic energy is increasing, potential energy must decrease.