Electric field inside a cavity

In summary, the electric field inside a cavity of an irregular conducting surface with any charge is zero because all points on the surface must be at the same potential due to the freely moving charges. This results in no potential difference and thus no electric field between two points on the surface.
  • #1
kartikwat
49
0
I have read that electric field inside a cavity of irregular conducting surface having any charge is zero.how is this possible?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
Is the charge inside the conductor or inside the cavity?
 
  • #3
Meir Achuz said:
Is the charge inside the conductor or inside the cavity?

On Conducting surface
 
  • #4
kartikwat said:
I have read that electric field inside a cavity of irregular conducting surface having any charge is zero.how is this possible?

Because it's a conducting surface, the charges are free to move around. Therefore, all points on the surface must be at the same potential; if they weren't, the freely moving charges would move from the high-potential areas to the low potential areas until the difference was neutralized.

Ok, so all the points on the surface are at the same potential. What's the electric field between two points with the same potential?
 
  • #5


This is possible due to the principle of electrostatic shielding. When a conducting surface is irregular, the charges on the surface will redistribute themselves in such a way that the electric field inside the cavity is cancelled out. This is because the charges on the surface will create an equal and opposite electric field inside the cavity, effectively shielding it from any external electric fields. This is similar to how a Faraday cage works to block out external electric fields. Therefore, in the case of an irregular conducting surface, the electric field inside the cavity will be zero due to the redistribution of charges on the surface.
 

FAQ: Electric field inside a cavity

What is an electric field inside a cavity?

An electric field inside a cavity refers to the distribution of electric charge within a hollow or void space. It is the force per unit charge exerted on a charged particle at any given point inside the cavity.

What factors affect the electric field inside a cavity?

The electric field inside a cavity is affected by several factors including the shape and size of the cavity, the charge distribution on the cavity walls, and the presence of any external electric fields.

How is the electric field inside a cavity calculated?

The electric field inside a cavity can be calculated using Gauss's law, which states that the electric flux through any closed surface is equal to the enclosed charge divided by the permittivity of free space.

What is the significance of the electric field inside a cavity?

The electric field inside a cavity has important implications in the study of electrostatics and can help explain the behavior of charged particles within confined spaces. It is also used in various applications such as the design of electromagnetic shields and capacitors.

Can the electric field inside a cavity be changed?

Yes, the electric field inside a cavity can be changed by altering the factors that affect it, such as the shape and size of the cavity or the charge distribution on its walls. It can also be influenced by the presence of external electric fields.

Back
Top