Conducting and Insulating Conductors: why uniform and 'surface' charge distribution?

AI Thread Summary
In insulators, charges can be uniformly distributed throughout the material, while in conductors, charges reside only on the surface due to the nature of electric fields. When a conductor is in equilibrium, any net charge inside would create an electric field, causing current flow and disrupting equilibrium. This is why conductors cannot maintain net charges internally. The surface charge distribution in conductors is a result of the charges moving to minimize potential energy and maintain stability. Understanding these principles is crucial for applications in electrostatics and electrical engineering.
Kuhan
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Why is it that when you have an insulator, the charges are uniformly distributed but in a conductor, the charges are only at the surface?
 
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Insulators can have their charge everywhere, and in many real setups you will find them on the surface only, too.

Conductors cannot have net charges inside in equilibrium - those charges would induce a field in the conductor, which would lead to a current flow, and that violates the equilibrium condition.
 

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