We say a potential difference moves charges in a resistor.. i want to understand it in terms of field. What charge distribution produces a field in the resistor? True, the cell produces a field.. but it's in the direction along its terminals not across the resistor.
Its all well to say there a difference in potential across the resistor.
The cell and wires it connects to produce electric field, not only inside the cell, but also outside. The terminals of the cell are like two points of an electric dipole and their field outside the cell has lines of force that are similar to the wires.
The charges on the wires tune the electric field so that inside the wire, the field is teh same all over the cross-section and points along the wire.
There is an electric field in the resistor that causes current to flow. Ohms law for the resistor can be written in terms of the field
$$J=σE$$
Where $J$ is the current density, $σ$ is the material conductivity $E$ the electric field. $J$ and $E$ are vectors.
Hope this helps
