Identify the false statement

Options

A. Inside a charged or neutral conductor electrostatic field is zero
B. The electrostatic field at the surface of the charged conductor must be tangential to the surface at any point
C. There is no net charge at any point inside the conductor
D. Electrostatic potential is constant throughout the volume of the conductor

Answer

To solve the question of identifying the false statement regarding electrostatics, we will analyze each of the four statements provided.

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Statement 1:** "Inside a charged or neutral conductor, the electrostatic field is zero."
- This statement is **true**. According to electrostatic principles, the electric field inside a conductor in electrostatic equilibrium is zero. This is because any excess charge resides on the surface of the conductor, and the charges rearrange themselves in such a way that they cancel any internal electric fields.

2. **Statement 2:** "The electrostatic field at the surface of a charged conductor must be tangential to the surface."
- This statement is **false**. The electric field at the surface of a charged conductor is actually **normal** (perpendicular) to the surface. This is due to the fact that if there were any tangential component of the electric field, it would cause charges to move along the surface, contradicting the condition of electrostatic equilibrium.

3. **Statement 3:** "There is no net charge at any point inside the conductor."
- This statement is **true**. Since the electric field inside the conductor is zero, it implies that there is no net charge within the conductor. All excess charge resides on the surface.

4. **Statement 4:** "Electrostatic potential is constant throughout the volume of the conductor."
- This statement is **true**. Since the electric field inside the conductor is zero, the potential difference across any two points inside the conductor is zero, which means the electrostatic potential is constant throughout its volume.

### Conclusion:
The false statement among the four provided is **Statement 2**.

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