Question

The electric field just outside a charged conductor is E. The electric field just inside the conductor is:

• A. E
• B. E/2
• C. 2E
• D. 0

Hint:

This principle is the basis for electrostatic shielding. A conducting box, known as a Faraday cage, allows the electric field inside to remain zero even when the box is placed in a strong external electric field.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

In electrostatic equilibrium, a conductor inherently possesses zero net electric field internally. The presence of an internal electric field would instigate movement among the conductor's free charges (electrons) due to the forces exerted. Such charge movement would signify a state of disequilibrium. Consequently, charges redistribute themselves across the conductor's surface to neutralize any external electric field within its interior. Thus, irrespective of the magnitude of the electric field external to the conductor, the internal electric field remains consistently zero.