Question

A hollow conducting sphere has no net charge. There is a positive point charge q at the center of the sphere. What can be said about the electric field inside the sphere?

1) The electric field is zero everywhere inside the sphere.
2) The electric field is non-zero everywhere inside the sphere.
3) The electric field is zero only at the surface of the sphere.
4) The electric field is non-zero only at the surface of the sphere.

Answer 1

The electric field inside the hollow conducting sphere is zero everywhere inside the sphere. However, outside the sphere, the electric field is the same as if the conductor were replaced by a point charge at its center.

Step-by-step explanation:

The electric field inside the hollow conducting sphere is zero everywhere inside the sphere. This is because when a positive point charge is placed at the center of the hollow sphere, the excess charges in the conductor redistribute themselves until the electric field inside the conductor is zero. However, outside the sphere, the electric field is the same as if the conductor were replaced by a point charge at its center.