Is the Electric Field Always Zero on an Imaginary Surface Containing No Charge?

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the behavior of the electric field on an imaginary closed surface that contains no charge. Participants are exploring whether the electric field is always zero on such a surface and under what conditions it may not be.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Some participants consider specific scenarios, such as the effect of a point charge outside the surface, and question how the electric field behaves in those cases. Others raise questions about the interpretation of the electric field on the surface, including whether it refers to an average value across the surface.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants sharing different perspectives and attempting to clarify their understanding of the electric field in relation to the imaginary surface. There is no explicit consensus yet, but various interpretations and questions are being explored.

Contextual Notes

Participants are grappling with the implications of the absence of charge within the surface and how that affects the electric field, as well as the definitions and assumptions related to electric field measurements.

geronimo8
Messages
3
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


A certain region of space bounded by an imaginary closed surface contains no charge.
Is the electric field always zero on the surface? If not, under what circumstances is it zero on the surface?


Homework Equations


Φ = Qenclosed÷εo = EA


The Attempt at a Solution


Since the imaginary surface need no any material object. I think the E refres to the inside surface, so it is not zero...
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Imagine the field produced by a single positive point charge at the origin, you know what the field looks like. Now, draw your surface as a sphere that does not include the origin. What does the field look like on the surface? Is it zero?
 
I can't imagine that clearly... *sigh* sorry...
 
Last edited:
One question related to this problem: When you get asked about the electric field on the surface is it the average electric field over the surface?? I mean, in the case of a sphere, only when having the charge in the center will you have the same electric field all throughout the surface...
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
1K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
3K
Replies
9
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
6K
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
1K
  • · Replies 26 ·
Replies
26
Views
3K
  • · Replies 83 ·
3
Replies
83
Views
5K