Electric Fields and Conductors

The E-field inside a conductor is zero.

The electric field is always perpendicular to the surface of a conductor.

The parallel component of the Electric field would cause charges to flow. Charges do not continue to flow. Therefore, the parallel component must be zero.

Electric Fields Due to Lines and Planes of Charge			Friction Electricity
Return to Ch 17, Electrostatics & Electric Energy

(c) Doug Davis, 2002; all rights reserved