Difference between conductors and empty space

In summary, conductors allow charges to freely move and reposition themselves, resulting in a zero electric field inside them over time. However, in empty space, there are no charges to move around, so a non-zero electric field can only exist if there are charges present. This is why the electric field is not zero in empty space. Charge balancing in empty space can be hindered by energy barriers or processes that affect negative and positive charges differently, leading to the buildup of a charge.
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carllacan
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Inside a conductor, as opposed to inside an insulator, charges are free to move around and reposition themselves, which causes that, if we wait a long enough time, the electric field inside them will be zero.

But in an empty space there's nothing (by definition) that can stop charges from rearranging themselves in the same manner. So what's the difference between conductors and empty space, and why is the electric field not zero on the latter?
 
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In empty space, there are no charges to move around. So if there is a non-zero electric field there has to be some stuff around to be the charge that produces the electric field.

So suppose you have some lumps of matter with charges. And then between the matter lumps you have some empty space. You could have an electric field in the empty space.

Now if the electric charges are, overall, balanced plus for minus, they will have some tendency to move to get rid of the electric field. But suppose the charges are a bunch of plus charges on this lump of stuff, and a bunch of negative charges on this other lump. To get from one to the other they would have to get off the lump they start on.

That may require they get over some kind of energy barrier. For example, they may be lower energy on the lump than they would be 1 mm above the lump. They might be lower energy overall if the could move to the other lump. But they have to get over some kind of "speed bump" to get off the lump they start on. If some process or characteristic (such as an orbit for example) is keeping the lumps apart, then the charge balancing might not be all that easy.

So in general, the charge balancing movement could be very slow.

Another possibility is, some processes may affect negative charges (such as electrons) differently to how it affects positive charges (such as atomic nuclei). The larger mass positive charges could get left behind when the electrons get pushed around. Examples might be thermal processes and electromagnetic fields. It is possible that a charge could be built up by different effects on negative or positive charges. As long as this process is acting you might have a charge. Think of the usual example of friction on some such object as glass, plastic, or fur.
 
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FAQ: Difference between conductors and empty space

What is the main difference between conductors and empty space?

The main difference between conductors and empty space is that conductors have free electrons that are able to move and carry electrical charge, while empty space does not have any free electrons and is unable to conduct electricity.

How do conductors and empty space affect the flow of electrical current?

Conductors allow for the flow of electrical current because of the presence of free electrons that can move and carry the charge. In contrast, empty space does not have any free electrons and therefore cannot facilitate the flow of electrical current.

Can empty space ever become a conductor?

No, empty space cannot become a conductor. Conductors are materials that have a high concentration of free electrons that are able to move and carry electrical charge. Empty space, on the other hand, does not have any free electrons and therefore cannot become a conductor.

How do the properties of conductors and empty space affect electricity in everyday life?

The properties of conductors and empty space play a crucial role in everyday life. Conductors are used in various electrical devices and appliances, such as wires, to facilitate the flow of electricity. On the other hand, empty space is used as an insulator to prevent the flow of electricity and ensure safety in electrical systems.

Can conductors and empty space interact with each other?

Yes, conductors and empty space can interact with each other. For example, when an electrical charge is applied to a conductor, the free electrons in the conductor will move and induce a charge on the surface of the empty space near the conductor. This interaction is known as induction and is used in various applications, such as capacitors and transformers.

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