During a violent electric storm, a car is struck by a falling high-voltage wire that puts an excess charge of 850 uC on the metal car. (a) how much of this charge is on the inner surface of the car? (b) How much is on the outer surface?
ok...I didn't think there was any charge on the inner surface of the car because there is some kind of bubble or something. I don't know maybe that was just around the person inside the car. but I am confused I am not sure how to even start this problem.
A closed metal (conducting) container cannot have charges on the inner surface, because that would create an electric field between the inner and outer walls. The electric charges must be on the outside surface.
To determine the distribution of charge on the inner and outer surfaces of the car, we need to consider the concept of electrostatics and the behavior of electric fields. The excess charge on the car will distribute itself along the surfaces to minimize its electric potential energy. This redistribution will lead to opposite charges attracting each other and accumulating at certain locations on the car's surface.
Now let's calculate the charge distribution on the inner and outer surfaces of the car using the given information:
(a) To determine the charge on the inner surface of the car, we need to consider the fact that in electrostatic equilibrium, the electric field inside a conductor is zero. Therefore, all excess charge resides on the outer surface of the car.
Hence, the charge on the inner surface of the car is 0 uC.
(b) The total excess charge on the car is 850 uC. Since all the charge accumulates on the outer surface, the charge on the outer surface of the car is equal to the total excess charge.
Hence, the charge on the outer surface of the car is 850 uC.
In summary:
(a) There is no excess charge on the inner surface of the car (0 uC).
(b) The full excess charge of 850 uC is present on the outer surface of the car.