The figures at the right show an insulated board on the left and a conducting bo

Question

The figures at the right show an insulated board on the left and a conducting board of the same dimensions on the right. Two identical charged particles are the same distance from the slabs. Will Q exert a larger, equal, or smaller force on the board on the left compared to the situation on the right? Explain. Two electric charges have an initial electric potential energy of EPE_0. The distance between the charges is tripled and the electric potential energy increases. Was this accomplished by an external agent working on the system? Explain.

Explanation / Answer

9)The electrostsic force is given by:

F = kQ1Q2/r^2

for an isulator we know that the electrons are very tighly bound to the atom and are not free to move so, there are no free charges on the surface of the insulator to have a Coulombs force of attraction or repulsion. But the conductor at right has got free charges and hence there would be some electrostsic force between the charge Q and that present of the conductor.

So, Q will exert smaller or no force on left board however a comparetively larger force will be exterted on the conductor.

(b)The electric potential energy is given by:

U = q V = q (k Q/r)

we see that it is inversely porotional to the distance.

But with the decrease of distance the potential is increasing so there is a possibility that, the potential at that region is higer due to presence of some external agent(charge) here. Which is contributing to the increase in electric potential energy of the system

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