A conductor that is in electrostatic equilibrium has no net motion of its charges.

A conductor that is in electrostatic equilibrium has no net motion of its charges.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not applicable
• D. Indeterminate

Answer: (A)

In electrostatic equilibrium, charges in a conductor rearrange so that the electric field inside is zero. With no field to push them, the free charges experience no net force and there is no directed drift—no net current. They can still have random thermal motion, but it doesn’t constitute a net flow of charge. If there were any sustained motion, that current would change the charge distribution until equilibrium is restored. So the statement is true: there is no net motion of charges in electrostatic equilibrium.

In electrostatic equilibrium, charges in a conductor rearrange so that the electric field inside is zero. With no field to push them, the free charges experience no net force and there is no directed drift—no net current. They can still have random thermal motion, but it doesn’t constitute a net flow of charge. If there were any sustained motion, that current would change the charge distribution until equilibrium is restored. So the statement is true: there is no net motion of charges in electrostatic equilibrium.