Question

An arbitrarily shaped piece of conductor is given a net negative charge and is alone in space. What can we say about the electric potential within the conductor? Assume that the electric potential is zero at points that are very far away from the conductor.

Answer 1

Answer:

The electrostatic potential within the conductor will be negative and constant throughout the conductor.

Explanation:

Whenever a conductor is charged the total charge is spread throughout the entire surface uniformly. Inside the conductor the net electric field is always zero. Also we know if $\overrightarrow{E}$ e the electric field and V is the potential, then

$\overrightarrow{E}= - \overrightarrow{\nabla}V$

Now as in this case electric field within the conductor is zero, so potential (V) has to be constant.