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For a conductor in an external field, I would like to know whether the electron clouds of each atom, just shift slightly (resulting in positive charges just on one edge, and negative charges just on the other with all internal area remaining neutral) or.

Or, whether the electrons fully dissociate, leaving positive ions throughout the conductor volume but with all electrons on one side. 

If this second case, then how would the electric field work out as zero inside?

For a conductor in an external field I would like to know whether the electron clouds of each atom just shift slightly (resulting in positive charges just on one edge, and negative charges just on the other with all internal area remaining neutral) or whether the electrons fully dissociate, leaving positive ions throughout the conductor volume but with all electrons on one side. If this second case then how would the electric field work out as zero inside?

For a conductor in an external field, I would like to know whether the electron clouds of each atom, just shift slightly (resulting in positive charges just on one edge, and negative charges just on the other with all internal area remaining neutral).

Or, whether the electrons fully dissociate, leaving positive ions throughout the conductor volume but with all electrons on one side. 

If this second case, then how would the electric field work out as zero inside?

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Qmechanic
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In a conductor responding to an external E$E$-field do the electron clouds just shift slightly or do the electrons fully dissociate to go to one side?

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PhysMs
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In a conductor responding to an external E-field do the electron clouds just shift slightly or do the electrons fully dissociate to go to one side?

For a conductor in an external field I would like to know whether the electron clouds of each atom just shift slightly (resulting in positive charges just on one edge, and negative charges just on the other with all internal area remaining neutral) or whether the electrons fully dissociate, leaving positive ions throughout the conductor volume but with all electrons on one side. If this second case then how would the electric field work out as zero inside?