Free charges

Definition

Free charges are electric charges that are not bound to atoms or molecules and can move freely within a material. In conductors, free charges are typically electrons that respond to electric fields.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. In conductors, free charges can move throughout the material, allowing for electrical conductivity.
2. When an external electric field is applied to a conductor, free charges redistribute themselves until the internal electric field cancels the external one.
3. Free charges in a conductor at electrostatic equilibrium reside on the surface of the conductor.
4. The distribution of free charges on a conductor's surface ensures that the electric field inside the conductor is zero in static equilibrium.
5. Free charge density is often used to describe how much free charge exists per unit volume or surface area.

Review Questions

Related terms

Conductor:

A material that allows free movement of electric charges, typically electrons, enabling it to conduct electricity.

Electric Field:

A region around a charged particle where other charged particles experience a force.

Electrostatic Equilibrium:

A state where the net electric field inside a conductor is zero because free charges have redistributed themselves accordingly.