Metal Charge Transfer: Why Thin Sheets Form

[jinyong]

Why is it that when there's transfer of charge onto the metal it always forms on as close to the surface as possible and in a thin sheet?

 

[Mr.4]

Because the electrons repel each other and the charge distribution acquires minimum potential energy by spreading uniformly over the surface..

 

[Meir Achuz]

Because the electrons repel each other and the charge distribution acquires minimum potential energy by spreading uniformly over the surface..

The surface charge is usually not uniform. It is distributed so that the E
field is zero inside the metal.

 

[Mr.4]

I was talking about the thin sheet there.