Try it on paper first. A hint, the key idea and the worked solution are here when you need them.
A closed surface encloses charges of nC, nC and nC. A fourth charge of nC is outside the surface. Find the net flux through the surface. The fourth charge is then pushed inside the surface. What is the net flux now? Does the field at a point on the surface change when the fourth charge is moved?
Gauss's law: the net flux through a closed surface is , with . Only the net charge inside counts. The shape and size of the surface do not matter. For a sphere of radius with the charge at its centre, .
Have you tried it?
Work it out on paper first. It is fine to get stuck or make a mistake: that is how we learn. When you are ready, go through the solution one step at a time, and check each step against your own.
Step 1. The first case. The charge inside is nC. The charge outside adds no net flux. So .
Step 2. The second case. Now the charge inside is nC. So .
Step 3. The field. Yes, the field at a point on the surface changes. The fourth charge makes a field of its own at every point, and moving the charge changes it. Gauss's law tells us only about the net flux, which is a sum over the whole surface.
Answer: and . The field at a point of the surface does change.
Check. The flux grew by nC divided by , which is . And . It fits.
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