18.7 Conductors and Electric Fields in Static Equilibrium Conductors contain free charges that move easily. When excess charge is placed on a conductor or the conductor is put into a static electric field, charges in the conductor quickly respond to reach a steady state called electrostatic equilibrium. Figure 18.30 shows the effect of an electric field on free charges in a conductor. The free charges move until the field is perpendicular to the conductor's surface. There can be no component of the field parallel to the surface in electrostatic equilibrium, since, if there were, it would produce further movement of charge. A positive free charge is shown, but free charges can be either positive or negative and are, in fact, negative in metals. The motion of a positive charge is equivalent to the motion of a negative charge in the opposite direction. 712 Chapter 18 | Electric Charge and Electric Field (a) (b) Figure 18.30 When an electric field E is applied to a conductor, free charges inside the conductor move until the field is perpendicular to the surface. (a) The electric field is a vector quantity, with both parallel and perpendicular components. The parallel component (E ) exerts a force (F ) on the free charge q. which moves the charge until F = 0. (b) The resulting field is perpendiculer to the surface. The free charge has been brought to the conductor's surface, leaving electrostatic forces in equilibrium. ш

College Physics

11th Edition

ISBN:9781305952300

Author:Raymond A. Serway, Chris Vuille

Publisher:Raymond A. Serway, Chris Vuille

Chapter15: Electric Forces And Fields

Section: Chapter Questions

Problem 40P: The dome of a Van de Graaff generator receives a charge of 2.0 104 C. Find the strength of the...

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Conductors and Electric Fields in Static Equilibrium
• List the three properties of a conductor in electrostatic equilibrium.
• Explain the effect of an electric field on free charges in a conductor.
• Explain why no electric field may exist inside a conductor.
• Describe the electric field surrounding Earth.
• Explain what happens to an electric field applied to an irregular conductor. • Describe how a lightning rod works.
• Explain how a metal car may protect passengers inside from the dangerous electric fields caused by a downed line touching the car.

18.7 Conductors and Electric Fields in Static Equilibrium
Conductors contain free charges that move easily. When excess charge is placed on a conductor or the conductor is put into a
static electric field, charges in the conductor quickly respond to reach a steady state called electrostatic equilibrium.
Figure 18.30 shows the effect of an electric field on free charges in a conductor. The free charges move until the field is
perpendicular to the conductor's surface. There can be no component of the field parallel to the surface in electrostatic
equilibrium, since, if there were, it would produce further movement of charge. A positive free charge is shown, but free charges
can be either positive or negative and are, in fact, negative in metals. The motion of a positive charge is equivalent to the motion
of a negative charge in the opposite direction.
712
Chapter 18 | Electric Charge and Electric Field
(a)
(b)
Figure 18.30 When an electric field E is applied to a conductor, free charges inside the conductor move until the field is perpendicular to the surface.
(a) The electric field is a vector quantity, with both parallel and perpendicular components. The parallel component (E ) exerts a force (F ) on
the free charge q. which moves the charge until F = 0. (b) The resulting field is perpendiculer to the surface. The free charge has been brought
to the conductor's surface, leaving electrostatic forces in equilibrium.
ш

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