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: A conducting sphere of radius R and a concentric thick spherical shell of inner radius 2R and outer radius 3R is shown in figure. A charge +10Q is given to the shell and the inner sphere is earthed. The charge on inner sphere is

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A. -4Q
B. -10Q
C. zero
D. none

Answer
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Hint: The arrangement of the conductors is such that they form a spherical capacitor. Since we earthed the inner sphere, the potential difference between this sphere and the ground becomes zero i.e, the inner sphere is at a potential of V = 0.

Complete answer:
We are given that the inner sphere of radius R is earthed and surrounding it there is a spherical shell with inner radius 2R and Outer radius 3R. When a charge of +10Q is imparted to spherical shell (outer), this gets divided into two parts:
1. A charge qi gets distributed on the inner surface of the shell of radius 2R.
2. A charge of qo gets distributed on the outer surface of the shell with radius 3R.

Due to a charge qi on the inner surface of the shell, a charge qi gets induced on the inner sphere of radius R.
The potential VB on the outer surface of the shell due to the outward electric field intensity is:
VB=qo+qiqi4πϵ03R
We keep qoqi=10Q, we get the potential difference as:
VBVA=+10Q+qi4πϵ03R .
Where VA is zero (inner shell).

The inner surface of the shell should contribute some potential difference given by:
VBVA=qi4πϵ0(1R12R)

Equating the two potential differences, we get:
+10Q+qi4πϵ03R=qi4πϵ0(1R12R)
Or, we can simplify this as:
+10Q+qiqi=3R(2RR)2R2
Which gives us:
qi=4Q
Since in the beginning of the discussion, we saw that qi gets distributed on the inner shell.
So, the correct answer is “Option A”.

Note:
One potential difference is derived by integrating net Electric field outward and another is derived from net electric field inwards (between the inner sphere and outer shell). We equated the two potential differences i.e., one at a point outside the arrangement and one in between the two spheres.