Question

On moving from the surface of a charged metallic sphere to the center of the sphere, the electric field:

• A. increases
• B. decreases
• C. remains the same as at the surface
• D. is zero at all places inside the sphere

Hint:

Inside a conductor in electrostatic equilibrium, the electric field is always zero, regardless of the charge on the conductor.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

For a charged metallic sphere, all excess charge resides on the outer surface of the conductor. This is because in electrostatic equilibrium, the free electrons within a conductor redistribute themselves in such a way that the electric field inside the conductor is zero. According to Gauss’s Law, the electric field inside a conductor is: \[ E = 0 \quad \text{(at every point inside the sphere)}. \] This result follows from the fact that the net electric flux through a Gaussian surface entirely contained within the conductor is zero, implying that the electric field must also be zero. Hence, as we move from the surface to the center of the sphere, the electric field drops to zero instantly and remains zero throughout the interior of the sphere.