Question
Physics Question on Capacitors and Capacitance
Two identical conductors of copper and aluminium are placed in an identical electric field. The magnitude of induced charge in the aluminium will be
A
greater than in copper
B
zero
C
less than in copper
D
equal to that in copper
Answer
equal to that in copper
Explanation
Solution
As aluminium and copper are metals, their mobile electrons move under the influence of the external field until they reach the surface of the metal and collect there. External electric fields induce surface changes on metal objects that exactly cancel the field within. Since the field applied is same in both case, the induced charge will be the same. Hence, the magnitude of induced charge in the aluminium will be the same as that of copper.