Electric field inside a charged sphere

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the electric field inside a uniformly charged spherical shell, particularly focusing on whether an electric field can exist within the sphere under various conditions, such as the presence of additional objects or the symmetry of the charge distribution.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Conceptual clarification

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the implications of symmetry on the electric field within the sphere, questioning whether additional objects affect the field. Some express uncertainty about the justification for the electric field being zero inside the shell.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants sharing insights about symmetry and Gauss's law. Some have suggested that the electric field inside a non-symmetrical shell may not be zero, while others are considering the implications of having additional objects in the setup.

Contextual Notes

There is an ongoing debate about the assumptions regarding the charge distribution and the presence of additional objects, which may influence the electric field inside the shell.

hokhani
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If we have a uniformly charged spherical shell, supposing that the shell is non-conducting, could we have any electric field inside the sphere? Why?
 
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This looks like homework - and it is clearly a homework-like question. What do you think?

Can there be additional objects in the setup?
 
mfb said:
This looks like homework - and it is clearly a homework-like question. What do you think?

Can there be additional objects in the setup?
I couldn't give any justification that there is no electric filed inside.
 
Good - if there are additional objects in the setup, there can be an electric field.

If there are not, think about symmetry.
 
mfb said:
Good - if there are additional objects in the setup, there can be an electric field.

If there are not, think about symmetry.

There are not additional objects. But according to symmetry, using the Gauss's law, I found only that the inside electric field have to be normal to the surface and no reason for being zero. By symmetry do you mean that the inside electric field by one part of the surface is neutralized by the other so if we don't have symmetry, then the inside electric field is not necessarily zero and some parts of charges can be accumulated on the inside surface?
 
But according to symmetry, using the Gauss's law, I found only that the inside electric field have to be normal to the surface and no reason for being zero.
Try to apply it to a sphere around the center of the object.
 
mfb said:
Try to apply it to a sphere around the center of the object.
Thanks. I think I got it. In the case of spherical shell there is no electric field inside but in the case of non-symmetrical shells there is no reason that inside electric field be necessarily zero. Okay?
 

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