Electrostatics

Step 1: Apply Gauss's Law. Gauss's Law states that the net electric flux through any closed surface is proportional to the net electric charge enclosed by that surface ( ).

Step 2: Consider a Gaussian surface inside the hollow conductor. For a hollow spherical conductor, any charge placed on it will reside entirely on its outer surface due to electrostatic repulsion. If we draw a spherical Gaussian surface at any radius inside the hollow conductor, this surface encloses no charge ( ).

Step 3: Conclude the value of the electric field. Since , Gauss's Law gives: Due to the spherical symmetry, the electric field must be constant in magnitude on the Gaussian surface and directed radially. Therefore, the integral becomes . Since the area is not zero, the electric field must be zero everywhere inside the conductor.