Electric field inside a conductor not zero

AI Thread Summary
A neutral conductor typically has no electric field inside due to the movement of free charges that cancel any internal fields. However, in non-ideal conductors, if the external electric field is strong enough, it may not be completely canceled, potentially resulting in a net electric field inside. This situation raises questions about the behavior of charges within the conductor, as they may continue to move indefinitely if the field is not neutralized. The discussion also touches on whether this scenario violates conservation laws, suggesting that while charges may move, they will not flow eternally within the conductor. Overall, the conversation emphasizes the complexities of electric fields in real-world conductors compared to ideal conductors.
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Homework Statement


Is it possible to create an electric field such that a neutral conductor will experience a net electric field inside?

Homework Equations


The Attempt at a Solution


The definition of perfect conductor is that there are an infinite amount of charges free to move so that electric fields will cancel on the inside. How about the case for the not ideal conductor? Will there be a point where the electric field is so strong that the finite amount of free charge to distribute will not cancel it on the inside of the conductor? What are such examples in the physical world?
 
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What are your thoughts?
 
Griffiths says that charge will continue to flow to the surface of the conductor until the cancellation of the field is complete. However, if there are not enough charges (which may be the case in a real conductor), the total cancellation may not be complete, resulting in a net E field inside. If there's a net E-field, the charges inside the conductor will keep moving around, perhaps forever. Does this violate some sort of conservation law?
 
In that case, uncanceled electric field's direction is the same of external electric field.
Which means there's no eternal flow of charges inside the unideal conductor.
As a result, the conductor will experience the force which is attempting to destroy
the conductor because (-)charges on one side of conductor are heading opposite to
external EF and (+) charges on the other side of conductor are heading to the same direction
of external EF.

Is there any wrong point in my reply? I'm not sure about this explanation, so please
other people to explain this problem in the right way. :-)
 
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