Charge on Conductor: Why Reside on Surface?

  • Context: Undergrad 
  • Thread starter Thread starter Himal kharel
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SUMMARY

Excess charges in conductors reside on the surface due to electrostatic repulsion. Charges within a conductor repel each other and seek to maximize their distance, which leads to the accumulation of excess charge at the surface. This phenomenon occurs only with excess charge compared to the conductor's neutral state, ensuring that the interior remains charge-free under electrostatic equilibrium conditions.

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  • Understanding of electrostatics and charge distribution
  • Familiarity with the properties of conductors and insulators
  • Basic knowledge of electrostatic equilibrium
  • Concept of charge neutrality in materials
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Himal kharel
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why all the charges in conductor reside on surface?
 
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They are trying to move away from one another and that's the best they can do.
 
It's not all the charges. It's any excess charge (compared with its 'normal' neutral state). [I expect you knew this; just making sure.]
 

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