Question

The electric field inside a uniformly charged spherical shell \[(r < R)\] is:

Options

• Zero everywhere inside the shell

• \[\frac{1}{4\pi\varepsilon_0}\frac{q}{r^2}\] directed radially inward

• \[\frac{1}{4\pi\varepsilon_0}\frac{q}{R^2}\] uniform in magnitude

• \[\frac{1}{4\pi\varepsilon_0}\frac{q}{r}\] directed radially outward

Answer 1

Inside a uniformly charged spherical shell, the electric field is zero everywhere. Despite the field being zero, the potential inside remains constant at the surface value \[\frac{1}{4\pi\varepsilon_0}\frac{q}{R}\], since zero field only implies constant potential, not zero potential.