Question

Which of the following are true for a conductor?

• A. Charges travel through the entire body of the conductor
• B. Charges tend to stay at the point of initial contact
• C. Charges mainly travel through the surface of the conductor
• D. A conductor doesn't have any free electrons

Answer 1

The correct option is C

Charges mainly travel through the surface of the conductor

Charges mainly pass through the surface of a conductor due to a property called the skin effect. This happens because the electrons in the conductor repel against each other. They try to stay the maximum distance apart. This maximum distance can only be achieved if the charges stay on the conductor skin or the topmost layer.