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Name: Omar G.
Status: student
Age: 16
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: 2001-2002
Question:
Why do the electrons in a charged body (take the metal for example) that has an edged (I mean a special shape like ... 
        _____                         ___
       |____/    or similar to this  |___>  )

goes around (mostly) the edge of that shape (which is in the left side of the figure drawn).

Replies:
Omar,

Electrons in a negatively charged body go near the edges because they push away from each other. The electrons "try to get" as far from other electrons as is possible. Consider a cube. By grouping together at the eight corners of a cube, electrons can be near one-eighth of the other electrons but far away from seven-eighths of them. It works out as better than being evenly spaced.

Dr. Ken Mellendorf
Physics Instructor
Illinois Central College


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