Electric field inside a void in a conductor?

AI Thread Summary
The electric field inside a conductor and any voids within it is generally considered to be zero, supported by Gauss's Law, which states that the field is zero when there is no enclosed charge. However, the assumption of a zero field is an approximation, as there are no truly perfect conductors, and advancements in nanotechnology may challenge this understanding. The discussion highlights that while the spherical shell example illustrates the principle, arbitrary geometries require different methods for analysis. The conversation also touches on the implications of superconductors in this context. Overall, the topic emphasizes the need for further exploration of electric fields in various conductor shapes and conditions.
Hassan2
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Hi everyone,

The field inside a conductor and also inside any voids in a said to be zero. I'm convinced with the available proofs for the field inside a conductor. However, I am not aware of any solid proof for the field inside a void in a conductor. Would you please share your knowledge on this topic?

Thanks.
 
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Hassan2 said:
Hi everyone,

The field inside a conductor and also inside any voids in a said to be zero. I'm convinced with the available proofs for the field inside a conductor. However, I am not aware of any solid proof for the field inside a void in a conductor. Would you please share your knowledge on this topic?

Thanks.

There's no such thing as an unconditionally perfect conductor. The zero field assumption is only approximate. It will be even more suspect when science furthers develops nanotechnology, rendering these approximations as a quaint symbol of the time when people didn't need to care about it.
 
If I have a spherical shell with plus q charge on it, the E field is zero inside because there is no enclosed charge so it is zero by Gauss's Law.
no perfect conductors, what about superconductors?
 
cragar said:
If I have a spherical shell with plus q charge on it, the E field is zero inside because there is no enclosed charge so it is zero by Gauss's Law.
no perfect conductors, what about superconductors?

That's based on the symmetry of the shell. For an arbitrary geometry we need another approach.
 

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