Question

The static electric field inside an object made from a conducting material is ____

a.) greater than the electric field just outside the object.
b.) unaffected by the presence of the conductor.
c.) perpendicular to the surface of the object.
d.) constant, but not necessarily zero.
e.) zero everywhere.

Answer 1

The electric field inside a conductor in electrostatic equilibrium is zero everywhere because charges distribute on the surface such that they balance out any internal fields.

Step-by-step explanation:

Considering the properties of a conductor in electrostatic equilibrium, the electric field inside a conductor is zero everywhere. This is because any excess charge is distributed along the surface of the conductor, creating an internal equilibrium where the electrostatic forces balance out, leaving no net electric field within the conductor. Furthermore, just outside the conductor, the electric field lines are perpendicular to its surface because an electric field would otherwise cause the surface charges to move, contradicting the state of electrostatic equilibrium.