Why Do Charges Distribute Evenly on Conducting Plates and Spherical Conductors?

Thread starter sssddd
Start date Oct 1, 2005
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Conducting Conducting plate Plate

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Excess charges on thin infinite conducting plates distribute evenly across both faces to minimize charge repulsion, achieving electrostatic equilibrium. Conductors, including plates, behave similarly in that they allow free movement of charges, which is why excess charges reside on surfaces. In spherical conductors, charges reside only on the outer surface due to the symmetry of the electric field, which dictates that the electric field inside the conductor remains zero. This distribution is a consequence of the repulsive forces between like charges, leading to the observed behavior. Understanding these principles is crucial for grasping the fundamentals of electrostatics in conductors.

Oct 1, 2005

sssddd

why do the excess changes of a thin infinite conducting plates spread out evenly on the two faces? Is that just a way to minimize charge repulsion?

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Oct 1, 2005

russ_watters

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You got it.

Oct 1, 2005

sssddd

conductors are the same or different from conducting plates? why or why not? why are all charges only on one surface, or maybe I'm understanding it wrong.

For spherical conductors why are all charges only at one surface

Last edited: Oct 1, 2005

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