Name: Equipotential Surfaces and Its Properties
Uploaded: 2019-07-19
Duration: 7 min 22 s
Description: The surface over which the electric potential is the same everywhere is called an equipotential surface. Let's more about it and its properties in this video.

Question

Discuss the various properties of conductors in electrostatic equilibrium.

Accepted Answer

A conductor at electrostatic equilibrium has the following properties.

The field inside a conductor in electrostatic condition must be zero. Suppose the electric field is not zero inside the metal, then there will be a force on the free electrons due to this electric field. As a result, there will be a net motion of the electrons, which contradicts the conductors being in electrostatic equilibrium. Thus, the electric field is zero everywhere inside the conductor in electrostatic condition.

There is no net charge inside the conductors. The charges must reside only on the surface of the conductors. If there is a charge inside the conductor, field lines will be either originating from it or terminating at it. However, it should not be the case as the field inside it is zero. Therefore, no charge can exist inside a conductor.

The field at the surface of the conductor must be normal to the surface. If the field has a parallel component, then the electrons will move along the surface, which violates the electrostatic condition. Hence, the field is always normal to the surface.

The potential at all points in a conductor must be the same. As there is no field inside the conductor, no work is required to move charges within the conductor. Hence, the potential difference between any two points will be zero, or the potential will be the same at all the points.

Discuss the various properties of conductors in electrostatic equilibrium.

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