What effect will the presence of a conductor between two point charges have on the Coulomb force between them?
The presence of a conductor between two point charges can significantly affect the Coulomb force between them. Here's how:
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Shielding Effect: Conductors can shield electric fields. When a conductor is placed between two charges, it can redistribute its own electrons to cancel out the external electric field within it. This redistribution of charge can effectively reduce or eliminate the electric field between the two point charges, thus reducing the Coulomb force between them.
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Induced Charges: When a conductor is placed near charged objects, it can become polarized. This means that the conductor's electrons will move towards or away from the charges, creating induced charges on its surface. These induced charges can either attract or repel the original charges, depending on their sign, further altering the net force between the two point charges.
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Grounding Effect: If the conductor is grounded, it can drain off excess charge from one of the point charges, effectively reducing the charge on that point and thus reducing the Coulomb force between the two charges.
In summary, the presence of a conductor can alter the electric field and charge distribution, leading to a reduction or modification of the Coulomb force between two point charges. However, the exact effect depends on the specifics of the conductor's placement, size, and whether it is grounded.