Question

When electrons go to the outside surface of a conductor why doesn't that create an electric field pointing radially outwards? E

is supposed to be 0

Answer 1

When electrons go to the outside surface of a conductor, it does create an electric field pointing radially outwards. However, the net electric field inside the conductor is zero.

Step-by-step explanation:

When electrons go to the outside surface of a conductor, it does create an electric field pointing radially outwards. However, this electric field inside the conductor is canceled out by the presence of other electrons due to their repulsion. As a result, the net electric field inside a conductor is zero.

This phenomenon can be understood using Gauss' law, which states that the electric flux through a closed surface is proportional to the total charge enclosed. Since there is no charge enclosed within a conductor, the electric flux and consequently the electric field inside the conductor is zero.

So while there is an electric field pointing radially outwards on the outside surface of a conductor, the net electric field inside the conductor is zero.