Question

Which of the following statements are correct?
A. Inside a conductor, the electrostatic field is zero.
B. Electric field at the surface of a charged conductor does not depend on its surface charge density.
C. The interior of a charged conductor can have no excess charge in the static situation.
D. At the surface of a charged conductor, the electrostatic field must be normal to the surface at every point.
E. The electrostatic potential is zero everywhere inside a charged conductor.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

• A. A, C and D only
• B. A, C and E only
• C. C, D and E only
• D. A, B and D only

Hint:

Remember: Inside a conductor, the field is zero, the charge is zero, but the potential is \textbf{constant}. It’s only zero if the conductor is grounded.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
These statements describe the fundamental properties of conductors in electrostatic equilibrium.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
1. Statement A (Correct): In static conditions, free charges move until the internal electric field is zero. 2. Statement B (Incorrect): The electric field at the surface is $E = \sigma / \epsilon_0$. It depends directly on surface charge density ($\sigma$). 3. Statement C (Correct): Gauss’s Law states that since $E=0$ inside, the net enclosed charge must also be zero. Excess charge resides only on the surface. 4. Statement D (Correct): If the field weren't normal, a tangential component would exist, causing charges to move along the surface, which contradicts the "static" condition. 5. Statement E (Incorrect): The potential is constant (equal to the surface potential), but not necessarily zero.

Step 3: Final Answer:
Statements A, C, and D are the correct choices.