Conductor
Definition
A conductor is a material that allows the free flow of electric charge, typically electrons. Metals like copper and aluminum are common examples of conductors.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
- Conductors have free electrons that can move easily within the material.
- The electric field inside a perfect conductor is zero in electrostatic equilibrium.
- When a conductor is placed in an external electric field, charges redistribute on its surface to cancel the field inside.
- Conductors can be charged by induction without direct contact with another charged object.
- Surface charge density on a conductor is highest at points with the smallest radius of curvature (sharp points).
Review Questions
- What happens to the electric field inside a conductor when it reaches electrostatic equilibrium?
- How does charging by induction work with conductors?
- Why do conductors have high surface charge density at sharp points?
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Related terms
Insulator: A material that does not allow free movement of electric charge; it resists the flow of electrons.
Electrostatic Equilibrium: The state where all excess charges are at rest and the electric field within a conductor is zero.
Charging by Induction: The process of rearranging the distribution of charges in an object, without direct contact, due to the influence of nearby charged objects.
