Question

The electric field at the surface of a charged conductor

is parallel to the surface

is perpendicular to the surface

is BOTH parallel and perpendicular to the surface

depends on the curvature of the surface

Answer 1

The electric field at the surface of a charged conductor is always perpendicular to the surface.

Reason - lf Electric field at surface is parallel to the surface, then this electric field will accelerate the excess charge

on surface . The charge will move in a direction (causes unbalanced forces on obect) and obect will not remain in

electrostatic equilibrium.

This is why the electric field is perpendicular to the surface of a charged conductor.

Direction of electric field do not depend on the curvature of the surface. lf obect is regular shaped (eg: sphere) then

the electric field vectors  will align with the center of the sphere. lf curvature is irregular then the alignment will not

be at center.

Hence, option (2) is correct.