Why is the E field at 1m zero inside a shell with distributed charge?

In summary, the E field inside a shell with an inner radius of 2m and an outer radius of 3m, with a distributed charge q, is zero at 1m due to the absence of charge enclosed inside the sphere. However, if the shell is made of a non-conducting material, certain charge distributions are required for the field to be zero at 1m. Without this information, it is not possible to determine the exact reason for the zero field at 1m.
  • #1
memow
2
0
E Field in a shell(!)

I have a shell with an inner radius 2m and an outer radius 3m and a cahrge q on the shell(distributed) , why is the E field at 1m is zero(charge enclosed is zero inside the sphere i can obtain it is zero but why doesn't the E field lines go into the shell)(this can be either insulating or conducting) thank you...
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
If the shell is made of a conducting material, then the field in the cavity and in the material would always be zero. But you have mentioned it may be non-conducting. Then some special charge distributions are necessary for the field to be zero at 1 m. You are missing some important info here.
 
  • #3


The reason why the electric field (E field) is zero at 1m inside a shell with distributed charge is due to the principle of superposition. This principle states that the total electric field at a point is the vector sum of the individual electric fields from all the charges present in the system.

In this case, the electric field at 1m inside the shell is influenced by the charges present on the inner and outer surfaces of the shell. However, since these charges are distributed uniformly on the surface of the shell, the electric field from each charge cancels out due to their equal magnitude and opposite direction. This results in a net electric field of zero at 1m inside the shell.

Furthermore, the electric field lines always point in the direction of the electric field. Since the net electric field is zero at 1m inside the shell, there are no electric field lines going into the shell. This is because the electric field lines would have to originate from a positive charge and terminate on a negative charge, which is not the case in this scenario.

In summary, the distribution of charge on the shell and the principle of superposition lead to a cancellation of the electric field inside the shell at 1m. This phenomenon holds true for both insulating and conducting shells, as long as the charge is distributed uniformly on the surface.
 

FAQ: Why is the E field at 1m zero inside a shell with distributed charge?

What is the concept behind "E Field in a shell()?"

The concept behind "E Field in a shell()" is the study of the electric field (E field) inside a spherical shell. The electric field is a physical quantity that describes the influence of electric charges on other charges and objects.

What is the formula for calculating the E Field in a shell()?

The formula for calculating the E Field in a shell() is E = kQ/r^2, where k is the Coulomb's constant, Q is the charge of the shell, and r is the distance from the center of the shell to the point where the E field is being measured.

How does the E Field behave inside a shell()?

Inside a spherical shell, the E Field behaves in a unique way. The E Field is constant and has the same magnitude and direction at all points inside the shell. This is because the electric charges on the shell cancel each other out, resulting in a net E Field of zero inside the shell.

What is the relationship between the E Field in a shell() and the distance from the center of the shell?

The relationship between the E Field in a shell() and the distance from the center of the shell is inverse square. This means that as the distance from the center of the shell increases, the E Field decreases with the square of the distance.

Can the E Field inside a shell() ever be non-zero?

No, the E Field inside a spherical shell can never be non-zero. This is because the electric charges on the shell always cancel each other out, resulting in a net E Field of zero inside the shell.

Back
Top