Question

Consider two metallic rods mounted on insulated supports. One is neutral, the other positively charged. You bring the two rods close to each, but without contact, and briefly ground the the neutral rod by touching it with your hand. What would be resulting charge (if any) on initially neutral rod?

Answer 1

Negative charges

Step-by-step explanation:

The procedure described above is known in physics as charging by electrostatic induction. If we desire to impart negative charges to a hitherto neutral rod, we bring a positively charged rod near it without allowing the two insulated rods to touch each other. If the neutral rod is earthed, negative charges remain on the rod.

Answer 2

Hi!

Letw call A to the initially neutral rod, and B to the positively charged. When they are close to each other, the positive charges in B attract the negative charges in A, and repelle the positive ones. If you ground A, negative charges from ground (your body, in this case), flow to A attracted by the positive charges in B, and positive charges in A flow to ground, so finally A results negatively charged