A conducting sphere is placed in a field generated by a positive charge as shown. Points A and B are on the surface of the sphere while Point C is inside the sphere. Assume the sphere has reached electrostatic equilibrium. 1) Find the direction of the electric field at point C 2) Which point has higher potential, A or B? Why?
A conducting sphere is placed in a field generated by a positive charge as shown. Points A and B are on the surface of the sphere while Point C is inside the sphere. Assume the sphere has reached electrostatic equilibrium.
1) Find the direction of the electric field at point C
2) Which point has higher potential, A or B? Why?
Please explain fully with details/reasoning/pictures to get thumbs up
Thanks
1) The external electric field generated by the positive charge causes re-distribution of charges inside the conducting sphere. Negative charges get accumulated in the end closer to the positive charge and positive charges get distributed in the farther end. Consequently, there will be electric field inside the conductor due to these re-distributed charges. However, the net electric field at any point inside the conducting sphere is equal to the vector sum of external electric field and electric field due to the redistributed charges. As they are oppositely directed, the electric field cancel each other. Therefore, electric field at point C is zero.
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