Electric field inside a charged surface

In summary, the electric field inside a conductor is zero because all the charges accumulate on the surface and cancel each other out. However, in an insulator, the electric field is dependent on the charge density and distribution inside the object.
  • #1
walleye
1
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?
 
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  • #2
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.
 
  • #3


Yes, you are correct. The electric field inside a conductor is zero because the charges inside the conductor are free to move and will redistribute themselves to cancel out any external electric field. This results in a net zero electric field inside the conductor.

On the other hand, the electric field inside an insulator can be non-zero. Insulators have bound charges that are not able to move freely, so they cannot cancel out any external electric field. This means that the electric field inside an insulator can vary depending on the distribution of bound charges.

It is important to note that even though the electric field inside an insulator can be non-zero, the electric potential inside the insulator is still constant. This is because the bound charges in an insulator are fixed in place and cannot move to create a potential difference.

Overall, the electric field inside a charged surface depends on the material properties and distribution of charges within the surface.
 

What is an electric field?

An electric field is a physical field that is created by electrically charged objects. It is a force field that surrounds charged particles and exerts a force on other charged particles within its range.

How is the electric field measured?

The electric field is measured in units of volts per meter (V/m). This unit represents the amount of force exerted on a charged particle per unit of electric charge.

What is the direction of the electric field inside a charged surface?

The direction of the electric field inside a charged surface is perpendicular to the surface. This means that the electric field lines are at right angles to the surface of the charged object.

How does the electric field inside a charged surface vary?

The electric field inside a charged surface varies depending on the shape and distribution of the charge on the surface. It is strongest at points where the surface is most curved, and weakest at points where the surface is most flat.

What is the relationship between the electric field and the charge on the surface?

The strength of the electric field inside a charged surface is directly proportional to the charge on the surface. This means that the higher the charge on the surface, the stronger the electric field will be inside the surface.

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