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Why must electrostatic field at the surf...

Why must electrostatic field at the surface of a charged conductor be normal to the surface at every point ? Give reason.

Text Solution

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If the electric field were not normal to the surface , then it would have a component along the surface which would cause work to be done in moving a charge on an equipotential surface . But work done in moving a charge on an equipotential surface is zero. hence electric field lines are normal to equipotential surface.
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