An uncharged sphere of metal is placed in a uniform electric field produced by two oppositely charged plates. The lines of force will appear as:
Correct answer: C. Option C
- A. Option A
- B. Option B
- C. Option C
- D. Option D
Explanation
Initially, before the sphere is placed, the electric field lines run uniformly from the positively charged plate to the negatively charged plate, parallel to each other.When the uncharged metal sphere is introduced into the electric field, it will induce charges within the sphere. Electrons within the metal will be attracted to the positively charged side of the sphere, and some electrons will migrate, redistributing themselves, until electrostatic equilibrium is reached. This process happens quickly in a conductor.As a result, the sphere will acquire a temporary charge distribution, where the side facing the positive plate becomes negatively charged, and the side facing the negative plate becomes positively charged.The induced charges on the sphere will create their own electric field within the sphere, which will oppose the external electric field from the plates.The net effect is that the electric field lines inside the metal sphere will be distorted and no longer be parallel to the original external field. They will curve and become denser on the side facing the positively charged plate and less dense on the side facing the negatively charged plate. These electric field lines inside the sphere will terminate on the induced charges on the inner surface of the sphere.So, within the metal sphere, the electric field lines will appear to curve and point from the negatively charged side (inside the sphere) to the positively charged side (inside the sphere) as a result of the induced charge distribution within the sphere. This is a temporary redistribution of charges, and it results in a change in the electric field lines within the sphere. Outside the sphere, beyond its surface, the external electric field lines from the plates will remain parallel and unaffected.
Report an error
The more specific you are, the faster it gets fixed. A source beats an opinion.
Prefer email? [email protected]
About Electrostatics
Electrostatics describes forces between charges through Coulomb's law, electric fields and field intensity, then uses electric potential to measure energy per unit charge. Capacitors store charge and electrical energy, with capacitance depending on geometry and dielectric material, not simply on the amount of charge present.
Practise Electrostatics
831 free Electrostatics MCQs from Physics, each with the correct answer and an explanation. Unlimited attempts, no account needed.
Discussion
Stuck on an option, or know a faster way to get there? Ask or explain it here.
No comments yet. Be the first to explain this one.
Exams that ask Physics questions like this
Physics is on 16 papers prepared for on TestUstad, and all of them draw the same bank, so this question is worth knowing for every one of them.
More Electrostatics questions
Two particles having positive charges +Q and +2Q are fixed at equal distance x from the center of a conducting sphere having zero net charge and radius r as shown. Initially, switch S is open. After switch S is closed, the net charge flowing out of the sphere is:
A point charge +Q is placed at the centroid of an equilateral triangle. When a second charge +Q is placed at a vertex of the triangle, the magnitude of the electrostatic force on the central charge is 4N. What is the magnitude of the net force on the central charge when a third charge +Q is placed at another vertex of the triangle?
If two like charges of magnitude 1 x 10^-9 Coulomb and 9 x 10^-9 Coulomb are separated by a distance of 1 meter, then the point on the line joining the charges, where the force experienced by a charge placed at that point is zero, is:
An electric dipole is placed at an angle of 30º to a non-uniform electric field. The dipole experiences:
An electric dipole of length 2 cm is placed with its axis making an angle of 30º to a uniform electric field 105 N/C. If it experiences a torque of 10 √3 Nm, then the potential energy of dipole will be:
An electric dipole has the magnitude of its charge as q and its dipole moment is p. It is placed in a uniform electric field E. If its dipole moment is along the direction of the field, the force on it and its potential energy are respectively :