# How point charges in a conductor move and stop?

Let's speak in the classical context (non quantum). We assume that point charges move in a conductor following Newtonian mechanics. How do point charges move along the boundary of the conductor and how do they stop (equilibrium) in the end?

• What end? In the classical model the free electrons do not stop. They are in thermal equilibrium with the atoms. Jul 3 at 15:27
• OK. What about ignoring thermal motion, then will free electrons ever stop? Jul 5 at 8:17
• Feynman, In a non-driven conductor, the free electron configuration will be stable when the resultant field within the conductor is zero. In a driven conductor, electrons are continuously added (and removed) and the resultant field causes the free electrons to experience a continuous “drift”. Jul 5 at 14:19
• What's a driven conductor and non driven conductor? Jul 6 at 4:25
• A driven conductor is connected to a source of voltage. Jul 6 at 13:18

The typical number of work function for metal is about $$4 eV$$ ($$3-5 eV$$) which forms a barrier for electron to escaping the metal (due to effects of electron-ion attraction and the electron-electron exchange). The surface reigion is about $$10 \dot A$$, forming an electric field of intensity $$10^7 volts/cm$$ at the boundary of a metal to prevent the electron from escaping.