Two identical conducting spheres carry net charges of +5.0q and -8.0q. The spheres are brought together so they touch, then separated. Because the spheres are identical, the combined charge splits evenly between them. What is the final charge on each sphere?

1. Conservation of charge fixes the total charge of the two-sphere system before and after they touch. 2. The total charge is +5.0q + (-8.0q) = -3.0q. 3. Because the two spheres are identical conductors, touching splits this total charge evenly between them. 4. Each sphere ends with -3.0q divided by 2, which is -1.5q. 5. Option D repeats the total charge instead of splitting it in half, which is the trap here; option A drops the negative sign entirely. _Source: OpenStax Physics (CC BY 4.0), Ch 18 "Static Electricity", section Conservation of Charge_