Consider three identical metal spheres, A, B, and C. Sphere A
carries a charge of +6q. Sphere B carries a charge of
-q. Sphere C carries no net charge. Spheres A and B are
touched together and then separated. Sphere C is then touched to
sphere A and separated from it. Lastly, sphere C is touched to
sphere B and separated from it. (a) What
is the ratio of the final charge on sphere C to q?
What is the ratio of the final total charge on the three spheres
to q (b) before they are
allowed to touch each other
and (c) after they have touched?