Question

Electric potential is constant throughout the volume of the conductor and has the same value on its surface. Why? Explain

Answer 1

We know,

Electric field, E = -dV/dx, V is the electric potential.

Now, inside a charge hollow conductor the electric field is zero because there is no charge inside the conductor. So,

dV/dx = 0

=> V = constant

Thus, electric potential inside a hollow conductor is constant.

In a charged conductor, the charges are equally distributed over its surface. Or, the charge density on the surface of a conductor is constant. So, the electric field at any point on the surface is constant. Thus, the surface of the conductor is an equipotential surface, or a surface that has constant potential.