Two equally charged small balls placed at a fixed distance experience a force 'F'. A similar uncharged ball after touching one of them is placed at the middle point between the two balls. the force experienced by this ball is

Step-by-step solution

Let each small sphere initially have charge q , with separation r , such that the Coulomb force is F = k q^2 r^2 . After the uncharged ball touches the first, both share the charge equally, resulting in q_A' = q_C' = q 2 , while the other ball retains charge q . The third ball is placed midway, at distances r 2 from the others. The force due to ball A is F_ AC = k (q/2)(q/2) (r/2)^2 = k q^2 r^2 (toward B), and from ball B is F_ BC = k q(q/2) (r/2)^2 = k 2q^2 r^2 (toward A). The net force on C is the difference: F_