Electric field inside a charged surface

AI Thread Summary
The electric field inside a conductor is zero because charges redistribute on the surface to minimize repulsion, as explained by Gauss' Law. In contrast, the electric field within an insulator is not necessarily zero, as charges can be distributed throughout the material. This means the electric field inside an insulator depends on the charge density and its distribution. Understanding these principles is crucial for grasping electrostatics. The discussion clarifies the fundamental differences in electric fields between conductors and insulators.
walleye
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
So just to verify (i'm not sure about this):

The electric field inside a conductor is zero?

the electric field inside an insulator is not necessarily zero?

am i right so far?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Yeah, the reason is because a conductor allows all the charge to accumulate on the surface and distribute itself in a way so that the charges are able to "move as far away from each other as possible"...this causes the electric field inside to cancel via Gauss' Law. In the insulator, charge can be spread throughout the body so the electric field is dependent on the charge density and its distribution inside the object.
 

Thread 'Maxwell stress tensor'

This is from Griffiths' Electrodynamics, 3rd edition, page 352. I am trying to calculate the divergence of the Maxwell stress tensor. The tensor is given as ##T_{ij} =\epsilon_0 (E_iE_j-\frac 1 2 \delta_{ij} E^2)+\frac 1 {\mu_0}(B_iB_j-\frac 1 2 \delta_{ij} B^2)##. To make things easier, I just want to focus on the part with the electrical field, i.e. I want to find the divergence of ##E_{ij}=E_iE_j-\frac 1 2 \delta_{ij}E^2##. In matrix form, this tensor should look like this...
View full post »
Thread 'Applying the Gauss (1835) formula for force between 2 parallel DC currents'

Thread 'Applying the Gauss (1835) formula for force between 2 parallel DC currents'

Please can anyone either:- (1) point me to a derivation of the perpendicular force (Fy) between two very long parallel wires carrying steady currents utilising the formula of Gauss for the force F along the line r between 2 charges? Or alternatively (2) point out where I have gone wrong in my method? I am having problems with calculating the direction and magnitude of the force as expected from modern (Biot-Savart-Maxwell-Lorentz) formula. Here is my method and results so far:- This...
View full post »

Similar threads

I Alternating current in a perfect conductor
Replies
11
Views
2K
I Problem with one of the premises in electrostatic pressure theory
Replies
1
Views
1K
I How is Potential Difference Created across a Resistor?
Replies
21
Views
4K
A Voltage and current waves in a transmission line
Replies
4
Views
3K
Electric field Difference between Electrostatics and Electrodynamics
Replies
2
Views
3K
I Electric field, flux, and conductor questions
Replies
14
Views
2K
I Tangential electric force at a surface
Replies
3
Views
2K
A Exploring the Electric Field of a Moving Charged Spherical Shell
Replies
14
Views
2K
I Electric field inside & outside of a spherical shell
Replies
7
Views
1K
Electric Field inside the material of a hollow conducting sphere
Replies
11
Views
4K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top