Two identical metallic spheres A and B when placed at certain distance in air repel each other with a force…

Two identical metallic spheres A and B when placed at certain distance in air repel each other with a force of F. Another identical uncharged sphere C is first placed in contact with A and then in contact with B and finally placed at midpoint between spheres Aand B. The force experienced by sphere C will be :
  1. 3F2
  2. 3F4
  3. F
  4. 2F

Solution

Let charge on A and B be qA=qB=q.

Then force acting between them is F=Kq2r2.

When C is placed in contact with A, charge on A and C will be =q2

Now C is placed in contact with B, charge on B  and C will be =q+q22=3q4

Now, force experienced by sphere C is 

F'=F2-F1=K9q216×r24-K3q28×r24=K3q4-Kq2r24×3q4

=3Kq24r2=3 F4

Asked in: JEE Main 2022 (29 Jul Shift 2)

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