Final answer:
The charge on a conducting sphere is evenly spread across its surface, which can be quantified by the total charge (q) or the surface charge density (σ= q/(4πR²)). Charges move to the surface during equilibration to achieve uniform distribution and zero electric field inside the sphere.
Step-by-step explanation:
The charge on a conducting sphere is distributed uniformly over the surface due to the repulsive nature of electric charges. The amount of charge on the sphere is represented by q, while surface charge density is the charge per unit area, denoted by σ. The relationship between the total charge q and the surface charge density σ on the surface of a conducting sphere is given by the formula q = σ(4πR²), where R is the radius of the sphere.
Within electrostatic equilibrium, the electric field inside a conducting sphere is zero, and the charge exists only on the surface, leading to a uniform distribution of the charge. When two conducting spheres of different charges touched, they equilibrate to the same potential, resulting in an equal distribution of charge across both spheres.
This principle is applied in various problems, such as calculating the electric field around spherical conductors, determining the charge on each of two spheres after they come into contact, and analyzing charge distribution and potential.