← Unit 2: Conductors, Capacitors, and Dielectrics
Conductors in Electrostatic Equilibrium
Inside a conductor in electrostatic equilibrium, the electric field is always zero, and any excess charge resides entirely on its surface.
Overview
In electrostatic equilibrium, free charges in a conductor rearrange until the internal field is exactly zero — otherwise, that field would keep pushing charges around. This is why the interior of a charged conductor has E=0 and all excess charge sits on the outer surface.
Practice Quiz
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Why is the electric field inside a conductor in electrostatic equilibrium always zero?