# Why the electric field just outside the conductor is perpendicular on its' surface?

Asked By: Saige Streich
Date created: Mon, Feb 22, 2021 6:11 PM

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Those who are looking for an answer to the question «Why the electric field just outside the conductor is perpendicular on its' surface?» often ask the following questions:

### 👉 Why electric field is perpendicular to surface of conductor?

Here is another intuitive explanation: Imagine for a moment that the electric field was not perpendicular to the surface. That means it has a component along the surface. Now, electric fields exert a force on charges, so now we have a force on the charges in the conductor along the surface of the conductor.

### 👉 Why are electric field lines perpendicular to the surface of a conductor?

Now, suppose electric field lines are not perpendicular to the local surface of the conductor . Then electric field will have some component parallel to the surface.

### 👉 Why are electric field lines perpendicular to the surface of the conductor?

First you need some vectors. If a vector, say a force vector, is making an angle of theta with the surface of an object, then that force will have a perpendicular component Fsin thetha and a tangential or parallel component (parallel to the surfa...

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If it isn't perpendicular, the charges would be redistributed because there would be force component tangential to the surface. In other words, the charges would move to a new equilibrium position, in which the electric field IS perpendicular to the surface.If it isn't perpendicular, the charges would be redistributed because there would be force component tangential to the surface. In other words, the charges would move to a new equilibrium position, in which the electric field IS perpendicular to the surface.If it isn't perpendicular, the charges would be redistributed because there would be force component tangential to the surface. In other words, the charges would move to a new equilibrium position, in which the electric field IS perpendicular to the surface.If it isn't perpendicular, the charges would be redistributed because there would be force component tangential to the surface. In other words, the charges would move to a new equilibrium position, in which the electric field IS perpendicular to the surface.

For conductors, the electric field perpendicular to its surface and no field exist within the conductor. As a result the equipotential lines are found near the surface.

Meaning, if you get any charge from infinity to any point on this surface, equal amount of work is done. Thus if you find this locus it is always perpendicular because of the fact that electric field lines actually represent the gradient in potential.

Now, suppose electric field lines are not perpendicular to the local surface of the conductor. Then electric field will have some component parallel to the surface. This component will give potential difference dV=-E (parallel).dl between the nearby points. Then, the surface is not equipotential surface.

Basically they say that the e-field inside the conductor is zero, as we all know, and then they find the flux through a gaussian cylinder with its axis oriented perpendicular to the surface. Gauss' law tells us that the flux exiting a gaussian surface is proportional to the enclosed charge.

The electric field just outside the surface of a conductor (E2) is normal to the surface. There can be no tangential component. If there were a tangential component, the electrons would move along the surface until it was gone.

The electric field is zero inside a conductor. Just outside a conductor, the electric field lines are perpendicular to its surface, ending or beginning on charges on the surface. Any excess charge resides entirely on the surface or surfaces of a conductor. Accordingly, what is a charged conductor?

Which one of the following statements about a charged conductor in electrostatic equilibrium is true? (1) The electric field just outside the surface is zero (2) The electric field just inside the surface is perpendicular to the surface (3) The electric charge is distributed uniformly throughout the volume of the conductor (4) The electric field just outside the surface is perpendicular to the surface

As we know that the electrostatic field inside the conductor is zero, therefore no work is done in moving a small test charge, within the conductor and on its surface. We find there is no potential difference between the two points inside or on the surface, which implies the electrostatic potential is constant throughout.

Now, suppose electric field lines are not perpendicular to the local surface of the conductor . Then electric field will have some component parallel to the surface. This component will give potential difference d V = − E (p a r a l l e l). d l between the nearby points. Then, the surface is not equipotential surface. So, for surface to be equipotential surface for static charge distribution the field lines at the surface are perpendicular to the surface.

The electric field is zero inside a conductor. Just outside a conductor, the electric field lines are perpendicular to its surface, ending or beginning on charges on the surface. Any excess charge resides entirely on the surface or surfaces of a conductor.

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We've handpicked 22 related questions for you, similar to «Why the electric field just outside the conductor is perpendicular on its' surface?» so you can surely find the answer!

### Is electric field always perpendicular at a surface point?

Assuming that that electric field is not perpendicular to the surface, then there must be a component of the electric field that is parallel to the surface. Since the electric field is defined to the be gradient of the potential, the surface of the conductor would not have a constant potential.

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### Why electric field lines are perpendicular to surface area?

Why are electric field lines perpendicular on any surface (randomly, sphere, straight line, etc.)? Electric field lines are guaranteed to be perpendicular to a CONDUCTING surface in the electrostatic case. If there is a parallel component at the surface then there will be current flow until an electrostatic configuration is met.

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### Why electric field lines are perpendicular to surface plate?

Electric field lines are guaranteed to be perpendicular to a CONDUCTING surface in the electrostatic case. If there is a parallel component at the surface then there will be current flow until an electrostatic configuration is met. Field lines are NOT perpendicular to conductors that are carrying current.

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### Why electric field lines are perpendicular to surface waves?

First you need some vectors. If a vector, say a force vector, is making an angle of theta with the surface of an object, then that force will have a perpendicular …

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### Why electric field lines are perpendicular to the surface?

Electric flux through a surface is at *maximum* when the electric field is perpendicular to the surface. The whole point of flux is to measure the “total number of field lines” punching through a surface. If the electric field is lying *along* the surface, it isn’t going in or going out and the flux is zero.

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### Why are electric field lines perpendicular at a conductor?

• Because if they are not perpendicular then there will be a component of E along the surface of conductor. Due to this component, electrons on the suface experence an electric force given by F = qE. As electrons are free to move on the surface of conductor so an electric current produces on the surface of conductor.

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### Why electric field lines are perpendicular to equipotential surface coverage?

Electric field lines cannot be parallel to the equipotential surface. Because if they are or if they have component along equipotential surface, that means electrical field exists along equipotential surface. And if electric field exists that mean...

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### Why electric field lines are perpendicular to equipotential surface properties?

Consider if they are not perpendicular, there will be two components which can cause charge to move along the surface. This means that there is some potential difference which is cannot be true since equipotential surfaces, by definition, should be a surface where the potential is constant accross the surface. Answer verified by Toppr Upvote (0)

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### Why electric field lines are perpendicular to equipotential surface waves?

Electric field lines cannot be parallel to the equipotential surface. Because if they are or if they have component along equipotential surface, that means electrical field exists along equipotential surface. And if electric field exists that mean...

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### Why is an electric field perpendicular to a gaussian surface?

Gauss law states that electric field on any gaussian surface is due to electric flux related to that surface. As shown in the image the electric flux related to this gaussian surface is due to both q1 and q2 , so calculated electric field will be due to both q1 and q2.

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### Why is an equipotential surface perpendicular to the electric field?

Why should an electric field be perpendicular to the equipotential surface? ‘Should’ is an interesting word. Two cases must be considered. The most general case allows for changing electric fields (i.e. Real World). In this case the electric field will NOT (necessarily) be perpendicular to the equipotential surface. In fact the ‘projection’ of the E-field onto any conductive surface will tell us which way the electric charges will be accelerating on this surface. (Think Antenna Design.)

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### What is electric field on surface of conductor?

We know that this field has $E = \frac{\sigma}{2\epsilon_0}$ pointing away from it (away and towards the surface of the conductor). We also know that the electric field inside the conductor must be 0; thus the conductor itself must have an electric field of $E = \frac{\sigma}{2\epsilon_0}$ pointing outward to cancel out the incoming field of the charge distribution.

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### Electric field lines are always perpendicular to the surface of water?

Electric field lines are guaranteed to be perpendicular to a CONDUCTING surface in the electrostatic case. If there is a parallel component at the surface then there will be current flow until an electrostatic configuration is met. Field lines are NOT perpendicular to conductors that are carrying current.

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### What is electric field on surface of conductor chart?

18.4: Electric field and potential at the surface of a conductor. as we found in the Chapter 17. If we define electric potential to be zero at infinity, then …

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### What is electric field on surface of conductor definition?

Electric field at the surface of a charged conductor - definition E = ϵ 0 σ n ^ where σ is the surface charge density and n ^ is a unit vector normal to the surface in the outward direction.

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### What is electric field on surface of conductor diagram?

Electric Fields are Perpendicular to Charged Surfaces. A second characteristic of conductors at electrostatic equilibrium is that the electric field upon the surface of the conductor is directed entirely perpendicular to the surface. There cannot be a component of electric field (or electric force) that is parallel to the surface.

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### What is electric field on surface of conductor paper?

The electric ﬁeld at the surface of a spherical conductor is a typi-cal theme for which one ﬁnds distinct presentations in textbooks. For instance, in Giancoli’s high school level textbook (Exercise 16–12), one ﬁnds the following incomplete presentation for the 1This example actually treats ﬁeld of a spherical shell of radius r

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### Electric field and magnetic field are perpendicular?

For the scalar product between two vectors to be zero either one of them is the zero vector or they are perpendicular to each other. Therefore, the electric and magnetic fields are perpendicular. Also, for a propagating EM wave, the $\boldsymbol E$ and $\boldsymbol B$ fields are always perpendicular in a homogenous, linear, anisotropic medium. This type of media includes many things like air, water, glass (without stress or tempering). However, in inhomogenous, non-linear, or isotropic media ...

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### What is the electric field eext outside the conductor?

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