A hollow spherical conductor carries a charge Q. What is the electric field inside the cavity?
Correct Answer: Electric field inside the cavity is zero.
- Step 1: Understand that a hollow spherical conductor is a type of conductor that has a space (cavity) inside it.
- Step 2: Know that when a conductor carries a charge (Q), the charge distributes itself on the outer surface of the conductor.
- Step 3: Remember that electric fields inside a conductor are always zero when in electrostatic equilibrium.
- Step 4: Realize that the cavity inside the hollow conductor is shielded from external electric fields by the conductor itself.
- Step 5: Conclude that because of this shielding effect, the electric field inside the cavity is zero.
- Electrostatics – The behavior of electric charges at rest, particularly in conductors.
- Gauss's Law – A principle that relates the electric field to the charge enclosed by a surface.
- Shielding Effect – The phenomenon where the electric field inside a conductor is zero when in electrostatic equilibrium.
