A neutral conductor and a neutral insulator of identical shape are each placed in the…
PHYSICS · Single correct · CBSE · Physics · Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance · Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance
Problem
A neutral conductor and a neutral insulator of identical shape are each placed in the same uniform external electric field. Which of the following best explains why the induced charge separation inside the conductor is typically larger than inside the insulator?
(a) Conductors contain a greater number density of electrons than insulators, so a larger amount of charge can shift in response to the field.
(b) The external field pulls electrons toward the positive side of the insulator so strongly that they can no longer separate from the nuclei, eliminating most polarization.
(c) Charge carriers in a conductor are free to move throughout the material, allowing them to redistribute until the interior electric field is essentially zero.
(d) The external field produces additional free electrons in the conductor through ionization, increasing the negative charge that can move compared with an insulator.