Question
Question: By the gauss’s theorem show that the electric field in a hollow spherical conductor is zero....
By the gauss’s theorem show that the electric field in a hollow spherical conductor is zero.
Solution
Gauss’s theorem is used to calculate the electric field of any closed surface area. We shall first mark a Gaussian surface and then find the closed integral of the electric field inside the gaussian equating it with the charge enclosed in the Gaussian surface divided by permittivity of free space.
Complete answer:
Since we have to find the electric field inside the hollow spherical conductor, thus the Gaussian surface would be a concentric hollow sphere whose radius, r is less than the radius of the spherical conductor.
That is, if Ris the radius of the given spherical conductor, then rTheelementalarea,dA=4\pi {{r}^{2}}.dr.TheGausstheoremismathematicallyexpressedas:\oint{\vec{E}.d\vec{A}=\dfrac{{{q}{enclosed}}}{{{\varepsilon }{0}}}}Where,\vec{E}=electricfieldofGaussiansurface.{{q}{enclosed}}=chargeenclosedinsidethegaussiansurface{{\varepsilon }{0}}=permittivityoffreespaceorvacuumWeknowthatifweprovidechargetoaconductor,thatchargeresidesonlyontheouterwallsoftheconductorandthus,thereiszerochargeinsidetheconductor.Now,wehavebeengivenahollowsphericalconductor.Inthiscaseaswell,thechargewillresideontheouterwalloftheconductorandthereiszerochargeanywhereinsidetheconductor.\Rightarrow {{q}{enclosed}}=0Thus,applyingGausstheorem,wehave\oint{\vec{E}.d\vec{A}=\dfrac{0}{{{\varepsilon }{0}}}}\Rightarrow \vec{E}=0$
Therefore, we get that the electric field in a hollow spherical conductor is zero using Gauss theorem.
Note:
The choice of the Gaussian surface plays a fundamental role in the determination of electric field using Gauss law. The Gaussian surface is an imaginary surface visualized to set boundaries for the application of Gauss law at or around a predefined area.