1.29 A hollow charged conductor has a tiny hole cut into its surface. Show that the electric field in the hole is (σ2ϵ0n^, whereis the unit vector in the outward normal direction, and σ is the surface charge density near the hole.


 

Let us consider a conductor with a cavity or a hole. Electric field inside the cavity is zero.
Let E is the electric field just outside the conductor, q is the electric charge, a is the charge density and ε0 is the permittivity of free space.
Charge q = σ X ds

According to Gauss's law, flux, ∅=E⋅ds=qϵ0

⇒E.ds=σ×dsϵ0∴E=σ2ϵ0n^

Therefore, the electric field just outside the conductor is σ2ϵ0n^. This field is a superposition of field due to the cavity E and the field due to the rest of the charged conductor E. These fields are equal and opposite inside the conductor and equal in magnitude and direction outside the conductor.  ∴E+E′=E

⇒E′=E2=σ2ϵ0n^

Hence, the field due to the rest of the conductor is σϵ0n^.