Understanding the Electric Field in a Circular Arrangement of Charges

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Arranging an infinite number of charges in a circle does not result in a zero electric field everywhere within that circle. Unlike a uniform spherical shell of charge, the electric field inside a circular arrangement of charges is not uniformly zero. In a conducting material, however, the electric field is zero due to the charges redistributing on the outer surface. This redistribution occurs because the electric field within the conducting material must be zero under electrostatic conditions. Therefore, while the electric field is zero inside the conductor, it is not zero within the circle formed by the charges.
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If you arrange infinite amount of charges in a circle, will the electric field anywhere within the circle be zero?
 
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electromania said:
If you arrange infinite amount of charges in a circle, will the electric field anywhere within the circle be zero?
No. The field within a uniform circle of charge is not zero everywhere, as it would be within a uniform spherical shell of charge.
 
But why is the electric field in a circular conductor always zero, aren't the charges arranged in the same way?
 
electromania said:
But why is the electric field in a circular conductor always zero,
Under electrostatic conditions, the field within the conducting material itself will be zero, no matter what the shape of the conductor.
aren't the charges arranged in the same way?
Say you have a conducting wire in the shape of a circle, which you charge. The charge will arrange itself on the outer surface of the conductor such that the electric field within the material will be zero. But inside the circle is not part of the conducting material. The field within the circle will not necessarily be zero.
 
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