The charge distribution on a non-conducting body can occur throughout its entire volume, while a conducting body only allows charge to reside on its surface. This distinction arises because charges in non-conductors are bound to atoms and can create dipole moments under an electric field, leading to polarization. In contrast, conducting bodies cannot maintain electric fields internally; any internal charges would move to cancel the field, resulting in no excess charges within. Gauss's Law confirms that there is no net enclosed charge within a conducting sphere, reinforcing the principle that electric fields do not exist inside conductors.
PREREQUISITESStudents of physics, electrical engineers, and anyone interested in understanding the principles of electrostatics and charge distribution in materials.
Bob S said:All charges are surrounded by lines of force (electric fields). If there are charges iwithin conducting bodies, there are also electric fields. But electric fields don't exist in conducting bodies, because if there were, the charges would move (conduct) to cancel the electric fields. Therefore there are no free (excess) charges within conducting bodies. There can be charges on the inside surface of a conducting sphere, but only if there are matching free charges within the enclosed volume. Gauss's theorem in the conducting sphere (integral[E*n da] = integral [rho dv] = 0) requires no electric field within the conducting sphere, so no net enclosed charge. In short, use Gauss's Law.