(/)

Custom Search

(http://twitter.com/Allthingsphysix) (http://www.facebook.com/ThePhysicsClassroom)

(http://www.pinterest.com/physxclassroom) (https://plus.google.com/+PhysicsclassroomPlus)

(/Read- (/Practice- (/Teacher-

Watch- Review-Test) Tools)
Interact)

-42% -90% -72% -12%

The Physics Classroom(/) Physics Tutorial(/class) Static Electricity(/class/estatics) Electric Fields and Conductors

Static Electricity - Lesson 4 - Electric Fields

Electric Fields and Conductors

Action at a Distance(/class/estatics/Lesson-4/Action-at-a-Distance)
Electric Field Intensity(/class/estatics/Lesson-4/Electric-Field-Intensity)
Electric Field Lines(/class/estatics/Lesson-4/Electric-Field-Lines)
Electric Fields and Conductors
Lightning(/class/estatics/Lesson-4/Lightning)

We have previously shown in Lesson 4 that any charged object - positive or negative, conductor or insulator -
creates an electric eld that permeates the space surrounding it. In the case of conductors there are a variety of
unusual characteristics about which we could elaborate. Recall from Lesson 1 that a
conductor(http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/estatics/u8l1d.cfm) is material that allows electrons to move
relatively freely from atom to atom. It was emphasized that when a conductor acquires an excess charge, the
excess charge moves about and distributes itself about the conductor in such a manner as to reduce the total
amount of repulsive forces within the conductor. We will explore this in more detail in this section of Lesson 4 as
we introduce the idea of electrostatic equilibrium. EElleeccttrroossttaattiicc eeqquuiilliibbrriiuum
m is the condition established by
charged conductors in which the excess charge has optimally distanced itself so as to reduce the total amount of
repulsive forces. Once a charged conductor has reached the state of electrostatic equilibrium, there is no further
motion of charge about the surface.

E l e c t r i c F i e l d s I n s i d e o f C h a rggeed C o n d u c t o r s
Charged conductors that have reached electrostatic equilibrium share a variety of unusual characteristics. One
characteristic of a conductor at electrostatic equilibrium is that the electric eld anywhere beneath the surface of
a charged conductor is zero. If an electric eld did exist beneath the surface of a conductor
(and inside of it), then the electric eld would exert a force on all electrons that were
present there. This net force would begin to accelerate and move these electrons. But
objects at electrostatic equilibrium have no further motion of charge about the surface. So
if this were to occur, then the original claim that the object was at electrostatic equilibrium
would be a false claim. If the electrons within a conductor have assumed an equilibrium state, then the net force
upon those electrons is zero. The electric eld lines either begin or end upon a charge and in the case of a
conductor, the charge exists solely upon its outer surface. The lines extend from this surface outward, not inward.
This of course presumes that our conductor does not surround a region of space where there was another charge.
To illustrate this characteristic, let's consider the space between and inside of two concentric, conducting

home(/) about(/about)

1996-2016 The Physics Classroom, All rights reserved.

surface of the outer cylinder to the outer surface of the inner cylinder. For the excess
charge on the outer cylinder, there is more to consider than merely the repulsive forces
between charges on its surface. While the excess charge on the outer cylinder seeks to
reduce repulsive forces between its excess charge, it must balance this with the tendency
to be attracted to the negative charges on the inner cylinder. Since the outer cylinder
surrounds a region that is charged, the characteristic of charge residing on the outer
surface of the conductor does not apply.
This concept of the electric eld being zero inside of a closed conducting surface was rst
demonstrated by Michael Faraday, a 19th century physicist who promoted the eld theory of electricity. Faraday
constructed a room within a room, covering the inner room with a metal foil. He sat inside the inner room with an
electroscope and charged the surfaces of the outer and inner room using an electrostatic generator. While sparks
were seen ying between the walls of the two rooms, there was no detection of an electric eld within the inner
room. The excess charge on the walls of the inner room resided entirely upon the outer surface of the room.
Today, this demonstration is often repeated in physics demonstration shows at museums and universities.
The inner room with the conducting frame that protected Faraday from the static charge is now referred to as a
FFaarraaddaayy''ss ccaaggee. The cage serves to shield whomever and whatever is on the inside from the inuence of electric
elds. Any closed, conducting surface can serve as a Faraday's cage, shielding whatever it surrounds from the
potentially damaging effects of electric elds. This principle of sshhiieellddiinngg is commonly utilized today as we protect
delicate electrical equipment by enclosing them in metal cases. Even delicate computer chips and other
components are shipped inside of conducting plastic packaging that shields the chips from potentially damaging
effects of electric elds. This is one more example of "Physics for Better Living."

Om Jewells Signature Vm46

Traditio Sol
Rs.79 Rs.149

E l e c t r i c F i e l d s a r e Pe r p e n d i c uulla r t o C h a rg e d S u r fa c e s
A second characteristic of conductors at electrostatic equilibrium is that the electric eld upon the surface of the
conductor is directed entirely perpendicular to the surface. There cannot be a component of electric eld (or
electric force) that is parallel to the surface. If the conducting object is spherical, then this means that the
perpendicular electric eld vectors are aligned with the center of the sphere. If the object is irregularly shaped,
then the electric eld vector at any location is perpendicular to a tangent line drawn to the surface at that
location.
Understanding why this characteristic is true demands an understanding of vectors, force and motion. The motion
of electrons, like any physical object, is governed by Newton's laws(http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class
/newtlaws/). One outcome of Newton's laws was that unbalanced forces cause objects to accelerate in the
direction of the unbalanced force and a balance of forces causes objects to remain at
equilibrium(http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/newtlaws/u2l3a.cfm). This truth provides the foundation
for the rationale behind why electric elds must be directed perpendicular to the
surface of conducting objects. If there were a component of electric eld directed
parallel to the surface, then the excess charge on the surface would be forced into
accelerated motion by this component. If a charge is set into motion, then the object
upon which it is on is not in a state of electrostatic equilibrium. Therefore, the electric
eld must be entirely perpendicular to the conducting surface for objects that are at electrostatic equilibrium.
Certainly a conducting object that has recently acquired an excess charge has a component of electric eld (and
electric force) parallel to the surface; it is this component that acts upon the newly acquired excess charge to
distribute the excess charge over the surface and establish electrostatic equilibrium. But once reached, there is no
longer any parallel component of electric eld and no longer any motion of excess charge.

E l e c t r i c F i e l d s a n d S u r fa c e C uurrvat u r e
A third characteristic of conducting objects at electrostatic equilibrium is that the electric elds are strongest at
locations along the surface where the object is most curved. The curvature of a surface can range from absolute
atness on one extreme to being curved to a blunt point on the other extreme.

A at location has no curvature and is characterized by relatively weak electric elds. On the other hand, a blunt
point has a high degree of curvature and is characterized by relatively strong electric elds. A sphere is uniformly
shaped with the same curvature at every location along its surface. As such, the electric
eld strength on the surface of a sphere is everywhere the same.
To understand the rationale for this third characteristic, we will consider an irregularly
shaped object that is negatively charged. Such an object has an excess of electrons.
These electrons would distribute themselves in such a manner as to reduce the effect of their repulsive forces.
Since electrostatic forces vary inversely with the square of the distance, these electrons would
tend to position themselves so as to increase their distance from one another. On a regularly
shaped sphere, the ultimate distance between every neighboring electron would be the same. But
on an irregularly shaped object, excess electrons would tend to accumulate in greater density
along locations of greatest curvature. Consider the diagram at the right. Electrons A and B are
located along a atter section of the surface. Like all well-behaved electrons, they repel each
other. The repulsive forces are directed along a line connecting charge to charge, making the
repulsive force primarily parallel to the surface. On the other hand, electrons C and D are located
along a section of the surface with a sharper curvature. These excess electrons also repel each other with a force
directed along a line connecting charge to charge. But now the force is directed at a sharper angle to the surface.
The components of these forces parallel to the surface are considerably less. A majority of the repulsive force
between electrons C and D is directed perpendicular to the surface.
The parallel components of these repulsive forces are what cause excess electrons to move along the surface of
the conductor. The electrons will move and distribute themselves until electrostatic equilibrium is reached. Once
reached, the resultant of all parallel components on any given excess electron (and on all excess electrons) will add
up to zero. All the parallel components of force on each of the electrons must be zero since the net force parallel
to the surface of the conductor is always zero (the second characteristic(http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class
/estatics/U8L4d.cfm#char2) discussed above). For the same separation distance, the parallel component of force
is greatest in the case of electrons A and B. So to acquire this balance of parallel forces, electrons A and B must
distance themselves further from each other than electrons C and D. Electrons C and D on the other hand can
crowd closer together at their location since that the parallel component of repulsive forces is less. In the end, a
relatively large quantity of charge accumulates on the locations of greatest curvature. This larger quantity of
charge combined with the fact that their repulsive forces are primarily directed perpendicular to the surface
results in a considerably stronger electric eld at such locations of increased curvature.

The fact that surfaces that are sharply curved to a blunt edge create strong electric elds is the underlying
principle for the use of lightning rods. In the next section of Lesson 4(http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class
/estatics/u8l4e.cfm), we will explore the phenomenon of lightning discharge and the use of lightning rods to
prevent lightning strikes.

We Wo u l d L i ke t o S u gg e s t . . .
Sometimes it isn't enough to just read about it. You have to interact with it! And
that's exactly what you do when you use one of The Physics Classroom's
Interactives. We would like to suggest that you combine the reading of this page
with the use of ourPut the Charge in the Goal Interactive(/Physics-Interactives
/Static-Electricity/Put-the-Charge-in-the-Goal)and/or ourElectrostatics
Landscapes Interactive(/Physics-Interactives/Static-Electricity/Electrostatics-Landscapes).Both Interactives can
be found in the Physics Interactives section of our website. Both Interactives provide engaging environments for
exploring electric elds and action-at-a-distance.

Visit: Put the Charge in the Goal(/Physics-Interactives/Static-Electricity/Put-the-Charge-in-the-Goal) |

Electrostatics Landscapes(/Physics-Interactives/Static-Electricity/Electrostatics-Landscapes)

C h e c k Yo u r U n d e r s t a n d i n g
Use your understanding to answer the following questions. When nished, click the button to view the answers.
1. Suppose that the sphere of a Van de Graaff generator gathers a charge. Then the motor is turned off and the
sphere is allowed to reach electrostatic equilibrium. The charge ___.

a. resides both on its surface and throughout its volume

b. resides mostly inside the sphere and only emerges outside when touched
c. resides only on the surface of the sphere

SSeeee A
Annssw
weerr

2. Describe the electric eld strength at the six labeled locations of the irregularly
shaped charged object at the right. Use the phrases "zero," "relatively weak,"
"moderate," and relatively strong" as your descriptions.

SSeeee A
Annssw
weerr

3. A diagram of an irregularly shaped charged conductor is shown at the right. Four

locations along the surface are labeled - A, B, C, and D. Rank these locations in increasing
order of the strength of their electric eld, beginning with the smallest electric eld.

SSeeee A
Annssw
weerr

4. Consider the diagram of the thumbtack shown at the right. Suppose that the thumbtack
becomes positively charged. Draw the electric eld lines surrounding the thumbtack.

See electric eld line diagram(http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/estatics

/U8L4d.cfm#Q4Answer).

5. Diagram the electric eld lines for the following conguration of two objects. Place
arrows on your eld lines.

See electric eld line diagram(http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/estatics

/U8L4d.cfm#Q5Answer).

6. A favorite physics demonstration used with the Van de Graaff generator involves slowly approaching the dome
holding a paper clip stretched towards the device. Why does the demonstrator not become toast when
approaching the machine with the blunt edge of the paper clip protruding forward?

SSeeee A
Annssw
weerr

7. TTR
RUUEE or FFA
ALLSSEE:

Lightning rods are placed on homes to protect them from lightning. They work because the electric eld
is weak around the lightning rods; thus, there is little ow of charge between the lightning rods/home
and the charged clouds.

SSeeee A
Annssw
weerr

Electric Field Line Diagram for Question #4:

The above diagram was not created by a Field Plotting software program; it would certainly look better if it had
been. Your answer may look different (especially when the details are compared) but it should share the following
general characteristics with the diagram given here:
The electric eld lines should be directed from the positively charged thumbtack to the extremities of the
page. Each eld line MUST have an arrowhead on it to indicate such directions.
All electric eld lines should be perpendicular to the surface of the thumbtack at the locations where the lines
and the thumbtack meet.
There should be more lines concentrated at the pointed extremity of the thumbtack and the two sharply
curved sections and fewer lines along the atter sections of the thumbtack.

Return to Question #4(http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/estatics/U8L4d.cfm#Q4)

Electric Field Line Diagram for Question #5:

Once more, the above diagram was not created by a Field Plotting software program; it would likely look better if
it had been. Your answer may look different (especially when the details are compared) but it should share the
following general characteristics with the diagram given here:
The eld lines should be directed from + to - or from the edge of the page to the - or from + to the edge of the
 page. Each eld line MUST have an arrowhead on it to indicate such directions.
At the surface of either object, the eld lines should be directed perpendicular to the surface.
There should be more lines at the sharply curved and pointed surfaces of the objects and less lines at the
atter sections.

Return to Question #5(http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/estatics/U8L4d.cfm#Q5)

Next Section: Lightning(/class/estatics/Lesson-4/Lightning)

114

(//m.addthis.com/live/redirect/?url=mailto
%3A%3Fbody%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.physicsclassroom.com%252Fclass%252Festatics%252FLesson-
4%252FElectric-Fields-
and-Conductors%2523.WPObLbvxYSI.mailto%26subject%3DElectric%2520Fields%2520and%2520Conductors&
uid=58cc9d262d63ab93&pub=ra-52794c9e3fb5dbdf&rev=v7.11.0-wp&per=undened&pco=tbx32-300)

Follow Us

(http://www.facebook.com
(//twitter.com
(https://plus.google.com
(http://www.pinterest.com
/ThePhysicsClassroom)
/Allthingsphysix)
/u/0/b /physxclassroom)
/110800722995019939579
/110800722995019939579/)