Electrostatic force with charge redistribution · CAP 2003 #5
Physics · electromagnetism
Problem
Two identical conducting spheres, A and B, carry equal electric charge. They are separated by a distance much larger than their diameter and exert an electrostatic force F on each other. A third identical conducting sphere C is initially uncharged and far away from A and B. Sphere C is then brought briefly into contact with sphere A, then with sphere B, and finally removed far away. The electrostatic force between A and B is now
(a) 3F/8;
(b) F/2;
(c) F/4;
(d) F/16.