GATE EE 2016 Set 2 — Question 35
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Electromagnetic Fields → Electrostatics → Field & Potential of Charges
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Question
Two electrodes, whose cross-sectional view is shown in the figure below, are at the same potential. The maximum electric field will be at the point

Correct answer
(A) A
Solution
The electric field intensity at the surface of a conductor is given by , where is the surface charge density. For a conductor at a constant potential, the surface charge density is higher at points with a smaller radius of curvature (sharper points). Points A and C are both tips with small radii of curvature. However, since the two electrodes are at the same potential, they act as a single equipotential system. The electric field lines from the inner tips (like C) are partially shielded or cancelled by the presence of the adjacent electrode. The outer tip (A) has the most concentrated field lines. Point D is inside the conductor, where the electric field is zero. Therefore, the maximum electric field occurs at point A.
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