Question

An astronaut is in an all-metal chamber outside the space station when a solar storm results in the deposit of a large positive charge on the station. Which statement is correct?
a. The astronaut must abandon the chamber immediately to avoid being electrocuted.
b. The astronaut will be safe only if she is wearing a spacesuit made of non-conducting materials.
c. The astronaut does not need to worry: the charge will remain on the outside surface.
d. The astronaut must abandon the chamber if the electric field on the outside surface becomes greater than the breakdown field of air.
e. The astronaut must abandon the chamber immediately because the electric field inside the chamber is non- uniform.

Answer 1

Answer:

c. The astronaut does not need to worry: the charge will remain on the outside surface.

Explanation:

The all-metal chamber (conductor) receives an external electromagnetic field, so it is positively charged in the direction the electromagnetic field is going, and negatively charged in the opposite direction. Since the chamber is polarized, it generates an electric field equal in magnitude, but opposite the external electromagnetic field, then the net electric field inside the conductor is 0.