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.

d. The astronaut must abandon the chamber immediately because the electric field inside the chamber is non-uniform.

Question

Ellen Oconnor

Physics

12 April, 17:53

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.

d. The astronaut must abandon the chamber immediately because the electric field inside the chamber is non-uniform.

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Answers (1)

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Nick · Answer 1

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

Explanation:

The astronaut need not worry because according to Gauss's law of electrostatic, a hollow charged surface will have a net zero charge on the inside. This is the case of a Gauss surface, and all the charges stay on the surface of the metal chamber. This same principle explains why passengers are safe from electrostatic charges, in an enclosed aircraft, high up in the atmosphere; all the charges stay on the surface of the aircraft.