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Re: batteries (again)



Justin Parke asked:

...When a conductor is placed in contact with the terminals
of a battery, is the electric field constrained to exist only
within the conductor? ...

"Paul O. Johnson" wrote:

If the conductor is in contact with only one terminal, the situation
is static (no current flows). In such a static case, the field inside any
conductor is zero (all points in the conductor are at the same potential).
potential). The field between terminals in question 1 is then modified
by the presence of the conductor.

I think that Justin's question was about a long wire connected to
the battery terminals. How does the distribution of electric field
lines (and equipotential surfaces) is changed (in comparison with
what it was when the wire was disconnected and was far away.)
This question has not been answered.
Ludwik Kowalski