Question

Consider a finite insulated, uncharged conductor placed near a finite positively charged conductor. The uncharged body must have a potential :

• A. less than the charged conductor and more than at infinity.
• B. more than the charged conductor and less than at infinity.
• C. more than the charged conductor and more than at infinity.
• D. less than the charged conductor and less than at infinity.

Answer 1

The correct option is A less than the charged conductor and more than at infinity.

Finite insulated, uncharged, conductor placed near a finite $(+Ve)$ charged conductor.

The problem statement all variables and given/known data consider a finite, uncharged, insulated conductor placed near a finite positively charged conductor the conductor. The uncharged body must have a potential.

(a) less than the charged conductor and more that at infinity.

I just took a case of two spherical capacitors, first one charged (say $(+Ve)$ charged) if the second sphere is brought near the first one it induces is $(-Ve)$ charge on one side of the sphere and a corresponding $(+Ve)$ charge on the other side of the sphere. The charge distribution may not be uniform, but is such that the field inside the conductor be comes zero.

$K\times \left(\frac{totalcharge}{commondistance}\right)$

and the potential at infinity $=0$ as well hence this is the problem.