Where do charges reside in the case of a charged conductor?

Options

A. Inside the conductor
B. On the outer surface of the conductor
C. On the inner surface of the conductor
D. Anywhere outside the conductor

Answer

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding the Conductor**: A conductor is a material that allows the flow of electric charge. When an external charge is applied to a conductor, the free electrons within the conductor are influenced by this charge.

2. **Charging the Conductor**: When a conductor is charged, the additional charges (which can be either positive or negative) will redistribute themselves within the conductor.

3. **Repulsive Forces**: The charges within the conductor experience repulsive forces from each other. This means that like charges repel, and to minimize the potential energy of the system, the charges will move as far apart as possible.

4. **Movement of Charges**: To achieve maximum distance from each other, the charges will move to the outer surface of the conductor. This movement continues until the charges are evenly distributed across the surface.

5. **Final Position of Charges**: As a result, in a charged conductor, the charges reside on the outer surface. This is because they want to be at the maximum distance from each other due to the repulsive forces acting between them.

6. **Conclusion**: Therefore, the final answer is that in the case of a charged conductor, the charges reside on the outer surface.