Given below are two statements: one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R).
**Assertion (A):** The outer body of an aircraft is made of metal, which protects persons sitting inside from lightning strikes.
**Reason (R):** The electric field inside the cavity enclosed by a conductor is zero.
In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:
Answer: (A) Both (A) and (R) are correct and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
Charges on a conductor stay on its outer surface and arrange themselves so that the field inside a charge-free cavity is zero (electrostatic shielding). The metal body of the aircraft acts as such a shield, so the lightning current flows over the outside and the people inside are protected.
Both statements are correct and R explains A.
Solution by Sreeraj P, M.Sc Physics