Electric field at the surface of a spherical shell?

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The electric field at the surface of a uniformly charged conducting spherical shell of radius 'r' with total charge 'q' is zero. This conclusion is derived from Gauss's Law, which states that the electric field inside a conductor in electrostatic equilibrium is zero. The discussion emphasizes the necessity of specifying whether the shell is conducting and the nature of the charge distribution to accurately determine the electric field at the surface.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Gauss's Law
  • Knowledge of electric fields and charge distributions
  • Familiarity with the properties of conducting materials
  • Concept of electrostatic equilibrium
NEXT STEPS
  • Study Gauss's Law applications in electrostatics
  • Explore the behavior of electric fields in conducting materials
  • Research the implications of charge distribution on electric fields
  • Review introductory physics concepts related to electrostatics
USEFUL FOR

Students studying electrostatics, physics educators, and anyone seeking to understand the behavior of electric fields in conducting spherical shells.

rahaverhma
Messages
73
Reaction score
1
What is the value of electric field at the surface of a spherical shell?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
##\vec{E}##

If you don't get it: unless you give more details, there is no way to answer this question.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Vanadium 50
I don't mean above the surface. Actually Exactly at the surface. And let radius 'r', charge 'q'.
 
And where is this charge q?
 
rahaverhma said:
I don't mean above the surface. Actually Exactly at the surface. And let radius 'r', charge 'q'.

This is still very vague. Is this a conducting spherical shell? If it isn't, is this a uniform charge distribution?

And, per the PF rules, have you attempted to solve this (i.e. apply Gauss's Law)? If you have, show it. If not, why not?

Furthermore, if this is part of a school work (and I can't imagine anyone asking such a question and not having this as part it), shouldn't this be done in the HW/Coursework forum?

Zz.
 
There is a uniformly charge distributed (conducting) spherical shell of radius 'r' having a total charge 'q' on its surface.Then I have to know abt the behavior and value of electric field just at its surface. Neither inside nor outside.
 
And shell has 0 dimensions
 
This now clearly looks like homework. Please repost in the introductory physics homework forum, and fill the homework template, including an attempt at a solution.

Thread closed.
 

Similar threads

Graduate Exploring the Electric Field of a Moving Charged Spherical Shell
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
3K
Undergrad Electric field inside & outside of a spherical shell
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
Undergrad Average field inside spherical shell of charge
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
1K
Undergrad Electric field outside a spherical shell?
  • · Replies 24 ·
Replies
24
Views
8K
High School E. Potential Energy: Uniformly Charged Hollow Sphere and Point Charge
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
Graduate Parameterize Radial Vector of Electric Field due to Spherical Shell
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
Undergrad Electrostatic force exerted on an electron inside a nucleus
  • · Replies 19 ·
Replies
19
Views
2K
Undergrad Is conducting shell =uniformly charged thin spherical shell?
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
2K
Undergrad Electric field is zero in the center of a spherical conductor
  • · Replies 44 ·
2
Replies
44
Views
5K
Undergrad Electrical field outside a hollow spherical conductor
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K