Question

If a conductor is placed in an external electric field, the field inside the conductor will be?

• A. zero
• B. equal to the external field
• C. twice the external field
• D. half the external field

Hint:

Inside a conductor in electrostatic equilibrium, the electric field is always zero due to the rearrangement of charges.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Behavior of electric field inside a conductor.
When a conductor is placed in an external electric field, free charges inside the conductor move in such a way that they cancel out the external field within the conductor. This results in the electric field inside the conductor becoming zero.
Step 2: Explanation of each option.
- (A) zero: Correct. Inside a conductor, the electric field is always zero in electrostatic equilibrium.
- (B) equal to the external field: Incorrect. The internal field is canceled out by the movement of free charges.
- (C) twice the external field: Incorrect. This does not hold for conductors.
- (D) half the external field: Incorrect. The field inside the conductor is zero, not a fraction of the external field.
Step 3: Conclusion.
The electric field inside the conductor is zero.