Question

A hollow conducting sphere is placed in an electric field produced by a point charge placed at P as shown in figure ​

Answer 1

Given:

A hollow conducting sphere is placed in an electric field created by a point charge placed at P shown in the attached diagram.

To find:

Relation between potential at point A,B and C.

Calculation:

The point charge at point P will produce an electrostatic field intensity in the conducting sphere.

But the conducting sphere will also produce an equal and opposite electrostatic field intensity in its Centre such that the net field intensity becomes zero.

In other words the field intensity inside a conductor is zero.

$\sf{ \therefore \: dE_{net} = 0}$

$\sf{ = > \: \dfrac{d V}{dr}= 0}$

$\sf{ = > \: d V= 0}$

$\sf{ = > \: V= constant}$

So, electrostatic potential is constant in all parts of the conducting sphere.

$\boxed{ \rm{ \red{ \large{V_{A} = V_{B} = V_{C}}}}}$