Question

Electric charge given to the hollow conductor resides
A. On the outer surface
B. At the centre
C. On the inner surface
D. Uniformly on the outer as well as on the inner surface

Answer 1

Hint:Electric charge cannot be created nor be destroyed and it follows from conservation of charge. There are two types of electric charge: one is a proton called positive charge and the other is electron called negative charge. The protons exist inside the nucleus are fixed while the electrons move around the nucleus in a well-defined orbit. The electrons in the outermost shell are called free electrons and they can move from one body to another.

Complete answer:
Electric charge given to any hollow conductors reside on the outer surface. No charge can exist inside the conductor on account of electric shielding effect. When a solid metal conductor is placed in an external electric field, then the electric field lines do not pass through it and this is known as electric shielding.

When a charge is given to any conductor, it produces an electric field of its own. The free charges of the conductor get influenced by this field and start moving. Thus, a current gets established in the conductor. This motion of charges forces them to move to the outer surfaces of the conductor. Thus, any charge given to a hollow conductor remains on its outer surfaces.

So, the correct option is A.

Note: Remember, the question is asking about a ‘hollow’ conducting sphere. Do not confuse it with a spherical conducting body of uniform mass density, because in that case, the answer changes and will vary with respect to the current question.