Charges on a Conductor
We have just seen that the charges always move to the surface of a conductor. Why?
- Gauss’ Law tells us!!
- E = 0 inside a conductor when in equilibrium (electrostatics) !
- Why?
If E ¹ 0, then charges would have forces on them and they would move !
Therefore from Gauss' Law, the charge on a conductor must only reside on the surface(s) !
http://wug.physics.uiuc.edu/courses/phys112/fall97/acts/lect04/act04b/sld001.htm