Explain this statement: “In a static situation, the electric field at the surface of a conductor can have no component parallel to the surface because this would violate the condition that the charges on the surface are at rest.” Would this statement be valid for the electric field at the surface of an insulator? Explain your answer and the reason for any differences between the cases of a conductor and an insulator.

Explain this statement: “In a static situation, the electric field at the surface of a conductor can have no component parallel to the surface because this would violate the condition that the charges on the surface are at rest.” Would this statement be valid for the electric field at the surface of an insulator? Explain your answer and the reason for any differences between the cases of a conductor and an insulator.