Why does the charge uniformly distributed on the surface of the sphere only?

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A solid conducting sphere with a positive charge Q has its charge uniformly distributed on the surface due to the requirement that the electric field inside the conductor remains zero. When the sphere is charged, electrons within the conductor move to the surface, leaving behind a positive charge, but protons do not move. This redistribution of charge occurs until the electric field inside the sphere is nullified, which can only happen with a uniform surface distribution. The discussion emphasizes that charges cannot be located within the sphere, as that would create an internal electric field. Thus, the uniform distribution on the surface is necessary to maintain electrostatic equilibrium.
cdymdcool
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1. A solid conducting sphere is given a positive charge Q. Why is the charge uniformly distributed on the surface of the sphere only?



Homework Equations





3. I know there are electron clous where electrons hang out, but what happen when the sphere is given a postive charge? I don't think protons comes to the surface or anything like that...
 
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cdymdcool said:
1. A solid conducting sphere is given a positive charge Q. Why is the charge uniformly distributed on the surface of the sphere only?

Homework Equations


3. I know there are electron clous where electrons hang out, but what happen when the sphere is given a postive charge? I don't think protons comes to the surface or anything like that...

The electric field inside a conductor must be zero, so there can be no charge inside the sphere. The remaining charges array themselves on the surface until there is no field inside the sphere, and the only way that can work is if they are concentrated uniformly on that surface.
 
But why aren't the charges uniformly distributed throughout the sphere?
 

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