Help me somebody explain this to me(Gauss's Law)

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around Gauss's Law and its implications, particularly focusing on the behavior of electric fields within conductors and cavities. The original poster poses questions about the practical consequences of a zero electric field inside a hollow conductor and the safety of individuals within such a structure during thunderstorms.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the concept of electrostatic shielding and its implications for safety. They explore whether the electric field inside a cavity in a conductor is zero and the reasoning behind it, referencing Gauss's Law.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided insights into the phenomenon of electrostatic shielding and the implications of Gauss's Law, suggesting that the electric field inside a conductor is indeed zero due to the absence of net charge within the cavity. However, the original poster's questions remain open for further exploration and clarification.

Contextual Notes

The original poster has reiterated their questions, indicating a desire for multiple perspectives and explanations. There is a note of caution against multiple postings, suggesting a structured approach to the discussion.

nutzweb
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i have a couple of questions and evryone can answer and explain it to me..

1. what are the practical consequences of the observation that the electric field inside a hollow conductor is zero regardless of how much electric charge is placed on its outer surface? what does this imply regarding the safety of a person inside an automobile in a thunderstorm?

2. is the electric field inside an empty cavity in a conductor zero? Why or why not?
 
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1) Shielding.. look into this.

2) Yes, of course. Since there is no net charge inside the cavity, Gauss' law says there cannot be an electric field.
 
1) This phenomenon is known as " Electrostatic Shielding' as per which the charge(s) inside a conductor are shielded from outside electric influences.The consequences include:

i)Electric Field Vector on the surface of the conductor is always prependicular to the surface

ii) The net field inside a conductor is zero.

iii) Because the charges on a conductor rest on the surface, there are no charges in the cavity inside the conductor and hence no electric field as per Gauss Law.

BJ
 
nutzweb said:
i have a couple of questions and evryone can answer and explain it to me..

1. what are the practical consequences of the observation that the electric field inside a hollow conductor is zero regardless of how much electric charge is placed on its outer surface? what does this imply regarding the safety of a person inside an automobile in a thunderstorm?

2. is the electric field inside an empty cavity in a conductor zero? Why or why not?

Please do not multiple post!

Zz.
 

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