To understand the behavior ofthe electric field at the surface of a conductor, and itsrelationship to surface charge on the conductor.
a conductor is placed in an external electrostatic field. theexternal field is uniform before the conductor is placed within it. the conductor is completely isolated from any source of current orcharge.
part a)
which of the following describes the electricfield inside this conductor?
it is in thesame direction as the original external field.
it is in theopposite direction from that of the original externalfield.
it has adirection determined entirely by the charge on itssurface.
it is alwayszero.
part b)
the charge density inside theconductor is:
0
non-zero; but uniform
non-zero; non-uniform
infinite
part c)
assume that at some point just outside thesurface of the conductor, the electric field has magnitudee and is directed toward thesurface of the conductor. what is the charge density eta on the surface of the conductor at thatpoint?
express your answer in terms ofe and epsilon_0.