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NEET PHYSICSEasy

The electric field at a distance 3R/2 from the centre of a charged conducting spherical shell of radius R is E. The electric field at a distance R/2 from the centre of the sphere is

A

zero

B

E

C

E/2

D

E/3

Step-by-Step Solution

For a charged conducting spherical shell of radius RR, the electric field behavior is determined by Gauss's Law:

  1. Outside the shell (r>Rr > R): The electric field is non-zero and given by E=14πε0qr2E = \frac{1}{4\pi\varepsilon_0}\frac{q}{r^2}. The distance 3R/2=1.5R3R/2 = 1.5R is greater than RR, so this point lies outside the shell.
  2. Inside the shell (r<Rr < R): The electric field is zero at all points inside a charged spherical shell. This is because a Gaussian surface drawn inside the shell encloses no charge (qenclosed=0q_{enclosed} = 0). Furthermore, for any conductor in electrostatic equilibrium, the electric field inside is always zero , , .

Since the distance R/2=0.5RR/2 = 0.5R is less than RR, the point lies inside the shell. Therefore, the electric field is zero.

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