---
title: "An isolated, hollow conducting shell carrying a net positive charge is shaped as an elongated ellipsoid in electrostatic equilibrium. Three points on the outer surface are labeled: Point \\(X\\) is located at a narrow end of maximum local surface curvature, Point \\(Z\\) is located at the wide equator of minimum local surface curvature, and Point \\(Y\\) is located at an intermediate region between \\(X\\) and \\(Z\\). Which of the following correctly ranks the magnitude of the outward electrostatic pressure \\(P\\) exerted on the surface of the conductor at points \\(X\\), \\(Y\\), and \\(Z\\)?"
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url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/118256/"
date_modified: "2026-08-04T08:08:27+00:00"
---

# An isolated, hollow conducting shell carrying a net positive charge is shaped as an elongated ellipsoid in electrostatic equilibrium. Three points on the outer surface are labeled: Point \(X\) is located at a narrow end of maximum local surface curvature, Point \(Z\) is located at the wide equator of minimum local surface curvature, and Point \(Y\) is located at an intermediate region between \(X\) and \(Z\). Which of the following correctly ranks the magnitude of the outward electrostatic pressure \(P\) exerted on the surface of the conductor at points \(X\), \(Y\), and \(Z\)?

An isolated, hollow conducting shell carrying a net positive charge is shaped as an elongated ellipsoid in electrostatic equilibrium. Three points on the outer surface are labeled: Point \(X\) is located at a narrow end of maximum local surface curvature, Point \(Z\) is located at the wide equator of minimum local surface curvature, and Point \(Y\) is located at an intermediate region between \(X\) and \(Z\). Which of the following correctly ranks the magnitude of the outward electrostatic pressure \(P\) exerted on the surface of the conductor at points \(X\), \(Y\), and \(Z\)?

![A smooth, elongated, oval-shaped conducting shell (prolate ellipsoid) centered horizontally. Point X is located at the far-left narrow end where the surface curvature is greatest. Point Z is located at the top center where the surface curvature is smallest (flattest). Point Y is located on the upper-left boundary between point X and point Z, where the curvature is intermediate. No charge signs or external field lines are shown.](https://nerd-notes.com/wp-content/uploads/ubq-frq-generated/stem-fig-1-1785830906-pa8oC1.jpg)

- **A.** \(P_X > P_Y > P_Z\)
- **B.** \(P_Z > P_Y > P_X\)
- **C.** \(P_X = P_Y = P_Z\)
- **D.** \(P_Y > P_X > P_Z\)

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/118256/*