Question

Sketch the electric field lines in the vicinity of the conductor in Figure 18.49 given the field was originally uniform and parallel to the object’s long axis. Is the resulting field small near the long side of the object?

Figure 18.49

Short answer

The electric field inside the conductor zero, so no electric field lines exit inside the conductor. Yes, the resulting field is smaller near the long side of the object.

Step-by-step solution

Conductor in an electric field

When a conductor is placed in an electric field, the free electrons inside the conductor rearrange themselves in such a manner that the resultant electric field inside the conductor is always zero.

Electric field lines in presence of conductor

Whenever a conductor is placed in an electric field, the free-electron inside the conductor experiences some force; due to this force, the electrons shift, creating a negative charge on the face opposite to the direction of the electric field and a positive charge on the face in the direction of the electric field.

Thus, the electric field lines in the vicinity of the conductor is represented as,

Electric field lines in the vicinity of the conductor

From the figure, it is observed that the electric field lines on the conductor placed in an electric field line are smaller near the long side. Hence, the resulting field is smaller near the long side of the object.