Past exam of the physics B course of the University of Cambridge / 2018 / Paper 1 / Section B / B6 / a

At the hemispherical surface $r=a$, the outward normal from the conductor into the gap is $\hat{\mathbf{r}}$. The tangential field is zero there andThe electrostatic interface boundary conditions give surface charge density $\sigma ={\epsilon }_0{E}_n$, because the interior electric field is zero. HenceIt is negative for a positive upper-plate voltage, greatest in magnitude at the apex, and zero at the equator. Its units are coulombs per square metre.