A point charge q is placed at a point P a distance b from the center C of an
earthed conducting sphere of radius a < b . It can be shown that the potential V everywhere in the space outside and on the sphere is the same as would arise fro just two charges (with the sphere removed); the original charge q at P and a qa second charge of magnitude − b placed between C and P, and on the line 2 joining them, a distance a b from C.
i. Verify that these two charges do give V = 0 at the two points at
which the line CP meets the sphere’s surface, and also on the circumference of the sphere which lies in a plane to which CP is normal.
ii. Verify that V = 0 everywhere on the sphere’s surface. (Consider a
point X on the surface, the radius to which makes an angle θ with CP.)
iii. Consider the physical situation represented by the previously
qa described pair of charges together with a charge b at C, and hence show that a charge Q placed a distance R from the center of an isolated uncharged conducting sphere of radius a experiences a force of attraction towards the sphere of magnitude