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Swapnil
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Is the fact that there could be no E-field inside a conductor purely experimental? I don't see any way to apply Maxwell's equations to prove this fact.
Yeah, this makes sense. Eventhough in order to prove that there is no E-field inside the conductor we are assuming that there is no current inside the conductor, the assumption of there being no current is more pleasing.Dick said:If there is an E field in a region with mobile charge carriers then there will be a current. So after all currents have died away, either the E field must be canceled or the medium will have run out of charge carriers. Does that help?
No, I meant to say that in general when we say "There is no E-field inside a conductor," what does "inside" actually mean?Dick said:If you mean inside a void in a conductor - sure, E can be non-zero in there.
Dick said:I would call 'inside the conductor' inside of the conducting shell.
Swapnil said:So, in general, the E-field in the solid region of a conductor would always be zero (for perfect conductors of course), right?
Swapnil said:So, in general, the E-field in the solid region of a conductor would always be zero (for perfect conductors of course), right?
Maxwell's equations are a set of four partial differential equations that describe the behavior of electric and magnetic fields. They were developed by physicist James Clerk Maxwell in the 19th century and are considered one of the cornerstones of classical electromagnetism.
Maxwell's equations provide a unified framework for understanding the relationship between electric and magnetic fields and how they interact with matter. They have been used to make numerous predictions and have been confirmed by experiments, solidifying their importance in the field of electromagnetism.
Conductors are materials that allow the flow of electric current. In Maxwell's equations, conductors are important because they have a unique effect on the behavior of electric fields. They can redistribute electric charges and create surface currents, which have implications for the propagation of electromagnetic waves.
In the presence of a conductor, Maxwell's equations are modified to include boundary conditions that account for the effects of the conductor. These conditions describe how electric and magnetic fields behave at the surface of the conductor and are essential for accurately modeling electromagnetic phenomena involving conductors.
Maxwell's equations and the study of conductors have numerous practical applications, including the design of electrical circuits, antennas, and communication systems. They are also essential for understanding and developing technologies such as wireless charging, radar, and electromagnetic shielding.