Introduction

When a point charge q is fixed at point A inside a hollow, grounded conducting spherical shell of radius R, it creates an electric field in the surrounding space. This electric field exerts a force on the conducting shell, causing it to experience a net force.

Explanation

Electric Field Inside the Shell
- The presence of the point charge q inside the conducting shell induces an opposite charge on the inner surface of the shell due to electrostatic induction.
- This induced charge redistributes itself uniformly on the inner surface of the shell, creating an electric field inside the shell.
- According to Gauss's Law, the electric field inside a conductor in electrostatic equilibrium is zero. Therefore, the electric field inside the shell is zero.

Electric Field Outside the Shell
- Outside the conducting shell, the electric field due to the point charge q is the same as if the shell was not present.
- The electric field due to a point charge q at a distance r from the charge is given by Coulomb's Law: E = kq/r^2, where k is the electrostatic constant.
- Therefore, the electric field outside the shell is given by E = kq/r^2.

Force on the Conducting Shell
- The conducting shell, being a conductor, has free charges that are able to move.
- In the presence of an electric field, these free charges redistribute themselves on the surface of the shell, causing the inner and outer surfaces to have opposite charges.
- The electric field inside the conductor is zero, so the charges on the inner surface of the shell are distributed in such a way that they cancel out the electric field due to the point charge q at point A.
- As a result, the conducting shell experiences no net force due to the electric field created by the point charge q.
- However, the presence of the conducting shell does affect the force between the point charge q and other charges in its vicinity, as it alters the electric field in the surrounding space.

Conclusion
The force on the conducting shell due to the presence of the point charge q is zero. However, the presence of the conducting shell affects the electric field in the surrounding space, leading to changes in the forces between the point charge q and other charges in its vicinity.