Given below are two statements: A: The outer body of an air craft is made of metal which protects persons sitting inside from lightning-strikes. R: The electric field inside the cavity enclosed by a conductor is zero.
⚡ Question Given below are two statements: Assertion (A): The outer body of an aircraft is made of metal which protects persons sitting inside from lightning strikes. Reason (R): The electric field inside the cavity enclosed by a conductor is zero. 🖼️ Question Image ✍️ Short Solution Step 1 — Understanding the concept When a conductor is placed in an external electric field (like a thundercloud’s field), charges on its surface rearrange themselves such that the net electric field inside becomes zero . This is a direct result of electrostatic shielding — a fundamental property of conductors. Step 2 — Applying to the aircraft The metal body of the aircraft acts as a closed conducting shell (essentially a Faraday cage ). Any external electric field (from lightning or thunderclouds) causes charge redistribution only on the outer surface . The field inside the cabin (the cavity) remains zero , keeping passengers completely safe from the electric discharge. ...