Charges gets concentrated only at edges and tip (sharp points)....why?

Question

"This is due to the reason that suface charge density is inversly proportional to Area ,therfore smaller is the area more charge density seems to be at the edges "

this is the answer everybody is giving....

but at the tips the charges tends to repel due to repulsive force...then how come charges to concentrate at the sharp edges and tips

come on dudes give me the nice answer along with ur email id

Answer 1

Neil is spot-on. The surface charge density is greater than on a smooth surface. The work function depends on the surface charge density, and so less energy is required to liberate electrons at a sharp point than a smooth surface.

Answer 2

I think you are confusing a lot of terms together..
I myself did these courses 6-7 years ago and have not had opportunity to revisit them since, so you need to validate it elsewhere as well.. but here is what it is

- charge does not concentrate on edges. Charge is uniformly spread over the entire surface of the body in question. Each point on the surface of the body is at the same level of charge (or valotage if you will)
- having said that, at the edges, the surface area is lesser, so charge density (or charge per unit area) is more.

And thats it!

Answer 3

I used to work for a company that made electronic parts, and they required all solder joints to be perfectly smooth because electrons accumulate on the tips of pointy solder joints, but why this is so I could never find out.

Answer 4

http://www.glenbrook.k12.il.us/gbssci/phys/Class/estatics/u8l4d.html