Where is the electric field the greatest?

Question

The electric field associated with a uniformly charged hollow metallic sphere is the greatest at:

A. the center of the sphere
B. the sphere's inner surface
C. infinity
D. the sphere's outer surface

I was thinking D, the outer surface, because if you put a test charge (which is always positive) just above the surface, the electrons will be concentrated toward the outer surface. Is this correct? If not, why?

Answer 1

You are right. here is a reference (thanks for helping me refresh my own memory on this!)
http://physics.bu.edu/~duffy/PY106/Electricfield.html

The inside of the sphere has a charge of zero, which eliminates A and B.
The field drops as 1/R^2 so at infinity it is zero, so that eliminates D

Answer 2

Your correct D is the answer. In effect the electrons (or holes in this case) don't like each other, but are bound to the metal. The Electric field radiates outward from the outer surface, and is highest next to the outside of the sphere. there is no field within the sphere.

Answer 3

D