How does positive charge spread out in conductors?

[jperentosh]

I know that when there are excess positive charges in a conductor, for example, a metal sphere, the positive charges will spread out over its surface. However, I am confused about how this excess charge spreads out over the surface, if protons cannot move and only electrons can move.
Can someone please inform me on how the excess positive charge spreads out over the surfaces of conductors?

 

[berkeman]

I know that when there are excess positive charges in a conductor, for example, a metal sphere, the positive charges will spread out over its surface. However, I am confused about how this excess charge spreads out over the surface, if protons cannot move and only electrons can move.
Can someone please inform me on how the excess positive charge spreads out over the surfaces of conductors?

How do you "know" this? Could you provide a textbook reference that states this? It is not true...

 

[xAxis]

Just imagine the situation. Excess positive charge means there is a lack of electrons. Would you really expect that in that case, say left side of the sphere would stay without electrons, and all electrons on the right side of the sphere would stay there?

 

[sophiecentaur]

How do you "know" this? Could you provide a textbook reference that states this? It is not true...

I think you are being a bit harsh here. It is not necessary to discuss nuts and bolts (electrons) in the context of most matters electrical. You can treat Positive and Negative elecrostatic charges in exactly the same way in many or even most cases. Any decent model of electricity should work just as well in a world of antimatter - even if we have only, so far, produced about 30 Anti-Hydrogen atoms.

Do we not discuss Holes in solid state physics?

 

[sardar]

The movement of positive charge in conductors is governed by the principles of electrostatics and the behavior of electrons. When a conductor has an excess of positive charge, the electrons within the conductor will redistribute themselves in order to neutralize the excess charge. This redistribution of electrons is known as electrostatic induction.

Electrons within a conductor are free to move, and they will move in response to an external electric field. When an excess positive charge is present on the surface of a conductor, the electrons within the conductor will be attracted to this positive charge and will redistribute themselves accordingly. This redistribution of electrons will result in a buildup of negative charge on the opposite side of the conductor, creating an electric field that counteracts the excess positive charge on the surface.

In essence, the excess positive charge on the surface of a conductor is spread out by the movement of electrons within the conductor. This redistribution of electrons helps to maintain electrostatic equilibrium and ensures that the electric field within the conductor remains constant.

It is important to note that in conductors, the movement of electrons is not limited to just the surface. Electrons can also move freely within the bulk of the material. This means that the redistribution of electrons can occur not only on the surface but also throughout the conductor, allowing for the excess positive charge to be evenly distributed.

In summary, the excess positive charge on the surface of a conductor is spread out through the movement of electrons within the conductor, which helps to maintain electrostatic equilibrium. This phenomenon is essential for understanding the behavior of conductors and is crucial in many applications, such as in electrical circuits and devices.