What causes charge to only reside on the surface of a hollow metal sphere?

AI Thread Summary
Charge on a hollow metal sphere resides only on its surface due to the repulsion between like charges, which causes them to move outward. According to Gauss' law, the electric field inside the shell of the sphere is zero when in equilibrium. This phenomenon, known as the "skin effect," also applies to solid wires, where charges distribute themselves to minimize repulsion. The arrangement ensures that the electric field inside the conductor remains neutral. Understanding these principles is crucial for grasping electrostatic behavior in conductors.
G.Chandra
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Why does charge given to a hollow metal sphere reside only on its surface?
 
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G.Chandra said:
Why does charge given to a hollow metal sphere reside only on its surface?
If the sphere is in equilibrium, what can you say about the electric field inside the 'shell' (not the cavity) of the sphere?
 
sry misunderstood ur question
 
G.Chandra said:
Why does charge given to a hollow metal sphere reside only on its surface?

use gauss' law to get the answer...
 
Think about what (equal) charges do when you bring them close together.
 
Exactly, this is called the "skin-effect", as the electrons' mutual repulsion will move them away from each other and thus towards the most outer region of the metal.
A sphere is not necessary; this can easily occur in solid wires.
 
Thread 'Motional EMF in Faraday disc, co-rotating magnet axial mean flux'

Thread 'Motional EMF in Faraday disc, co-rotating magnet axial mean flux'

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