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Since in any material the nucleus is surrounded by electrons some of the electron's electric field does interact with the other electrons from the same atom and with the electrons from the surrounding atoms. Even on the surface of an uncharged body there are a lot of electrons.

Adding electrons we observe an electric field. Is it possible to define a density of electrons on the surface shell and to calculate the increase of the electric field's strength when the body becomes charged (as electrons are added)? Has this been calculated and does the electron's electric field strength differ when bound to a nucleus from the strength in a free state?

Lewis Miller
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HolgerFiedler
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  • Are you talking about the free electron model? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_electron_model – The Quantum Physicist Feb 10 '16 at 15:41
  • @The Quantum Physicist From your link I follow to https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screening_effect. That it seems to be. – HolgerFiedler Feb 10 '16 at 16:02
  • @TheQuantumPhysicist Could you make it an answer, please? – HolgerFiedler Feb 10 '16 at 18:02
  • I'll expand on the comment I made on your next question: you've misunderstood what is happening with the screening effect. It is no more or less than the usual superposition of electric fields. There is no change in the charge of anything nor any change in field the contribution due to any selected particle. If you go forward thinking that there is then you will only make one mistake after another. – dmckee --- ex-moderator kitten Feb 10 '16 at 19:02

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What you're talking about is a part of the free electron theory in solid state physics. I believe you have to consult a solid state physics book, like Kittel's or Aschcroft's.

A good start can be in Wikipedia at the Screening effect.

The Quantum Physicist
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