Question Detail

PHY 102 Electrostatics: Electric Charge and Coulomb's Law Objective Question

Question

What is the electric field just outside any conducting surface with surface charge density σ?
Options
A E = σ/2ε₀
B E = σ/ε₀
Correct Answer
C E = 0
D E = kQ/r
Correct Answer

Option B is the correct answer.

Detailed Explanation

For a conductor, the field inside is zero, so the entire flux goes through the outer face of a Gaussian 'pillbox', resulting in E = σ/ε₀.

Hint

This is twice the field of a single nonconducting plane.

Question Info