A point charge q is placed at the centre of a spherical cavity inside an initially neutral isolated conductor. The conductor has no other cavities. The total induced charge on the inner surface and outer surface respectively is:
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Question

A point charge q is placed at the centre of a spherical cavity inside an initially neutral isolated conductor. The conductor has no other cavities. The total induced charge on the inner surface and outer surface respectively is:

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G1 Physics · Accepted Answer

A Gaussian surface lying inside the conducting material around the cavity must enclose zero net charge because E=0 in the conductor. Hence inner induced charge is -q. Since the conductor as a whole remains neutral, +q appears on the outer surface.