Question

What is wrong with Figure 15.35 and this associated incorrect student explanation? “The electric field at location inside the uniformly charged sphere points in the direction shown, because the charges closest to this location have the largest effect.” (Spheres provide the most common exception to the normally useful rule that the nearest charges usually make the largest contribution to the electric field.)

Short answer

The wrong fact about the given figure is the direction of the electric field at the location that is directed outward, but the electric field is zero.

Step-by-step solution

Significance of the electric field

The electric field is referred to as a region which allows a charged particle to exert a particular force on another charged particle.

The equation of the electric field gives the answer that is wrong with the figure.

Identification of the problem with the figure

It can be observed from the given figure that the negative charge outside the sphere is uniformly distributed and the other negative charges are further away, due to the excessive amount of the negative charges. The electric field at the location and the negative charges outside the spheres cancels each other. So, the electric field becomes zero. Hence, the direction of the electric field cannot be outward as it has zero value.

Thus, the wrong fact about the given figure is the direction of the electric field at the location that is directed outward, but the electric field is zero.