Where are Electrons on a Charged Metal Sphere?

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When a metal sphere acquires a negative charge, the electrons are evenly distributed over its surface. This distribution occurs because the electric field inside a charged conductor is zero, necessitating that all net charge resides on the surface. The even distribution of electrons ensures that the sphere maintains its overall negative charge. Understanding this principle is crucial in electrostatics. The discussion reinforces the concept that charge distribution on conductors is uniform on the surface.
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Suppose you give a metal sphere a negative charge. The electrons on the sphere will be...

A. located right in the middle of the shere
B. distributed in small bunches over the outside of the shere
C. evenly distributed over the outside of the shere
D. none of these
 
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Where do you think they will be?
 
C. evenly distributed
 
daniel69 said:
C. evenly distributed
Why?
 
because the particle is now negatively charged so as a whole it should be charged negatively which i think would be done by an evenly distribution of electrons
 
daniel69 said:
because the particle is now negatively charged so as a whole it should be charged negatively which i think would be done by an evenly distribution of electrons
More specifically, the electric field inside a charged conductor must be zero and therefore all the net charge must lie on the surface.

Your answer is correct, I just wanted to make sure that you understood why.
 
thanks you
 

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