COMEDK202510 May 2025Morning ShiftPhysicsElectrostaticsActual
Which of the following is not true for a perfect conductor?
Options
- AElectric field inside a conductor is zero
- BThe charge carried by a conductor is always uniformly distributed over the surface of the conductor irrespecti
- CThe surface of a conductor is an equipotential surface.
- DThe electric field just outside a conductor is always perpendicular to the surface.
Correct answer
B. The charge carried by a conductor is always uniformly distributed over the surface of the conductor irrespecti
Step-by-step solution
For a perfect conductor in electrostatic equilibrium, the electric field inside the conductor is zero, which is a fundamental property. This implies that the potential is constant throughout the volume of the conductor, making the surface an equipotential surface. Consequently, the electric field just outside the conductor must be perpendicular to the surface to ensure no tangential component exists, which would otherwise cause charge movement. Regarding the distribution of charge, it resides entirely on the surfac