Question
Explain : Static electric field inside a conductor is zero.
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Answer
→Consider a conductor, neutral or charged. In metallic conductor, there are positive ions fixed at definite positions and there are free electrons randomly moving in the inter ionic space.
→When such conductor is placed in external electric field $\vec{E}$, these free electrons gather (accumulate) at one end and in the same proportion, positive charge opens up at the other end.
→These charges create electric field inside the conductor, direction of which is opposite to the direction of the external field. When these two electric fields are of equal magnitude, net electric field inside conductor becomes zero.
→When such conductor is placed in external electric field $\vec{E}$, these free electrons gather (accumulate) at one end and in the same proportion, positive charge opens up at the other end.
→These charges create electric field inside the conductor, direction of which is opposite to the direction of the external field. When these two electric fields are of equal magnitude, net electric field inside conductor becomes zero.
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