# Electric fields in/around conductors [closed]

So according to my notes, the field inside a conductor is zero. But what, exactly, is meant by inside?

I think we are in electrostatics for the purpose of this question.

The reason it is zero is because all the electrons are pushed to the edge of the conductor. So are these electrons assumed to be no longer inside the conductor (i.e. not strictly inside the conductor). If this is the case, does this mean that Gauss' Law applies to charges strictly inside a surface, and considers charges on the surface to be "outside" the surface, or more precisely, not strictly inside the surface?

Please let me know if I should write this more clearly.

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You should post this on the Physics exchange site. (It could be migrated there by a moderator.) –  David Mitra Apr 19 '12 at 21:12
ah okay, thanks. I thought because I tagged physics that it went on the physics site. But now I think about it that's just stupid. Mods, delete the thread please.e –  Adam Rubinson Apr 19 '12 at 21:15
As the question's now been posted on physics.SE, I'll close here. –  Zev Chonoles Apr 19 '12 at 21:16