Question

A child uses one hand to charge a balloon by rubbing it against her shirt. She then holds a rod in her other hand and finds that the balloon and rod, when brought close to one another, repel. Which one of the following is true?

a. the rod must be a conductor
b. the rod must be an insulator
c. it could be either

Answer 1

B. The rod must be an insulator

Step-by-step explanation:

We have that this rod must be an insulator. After this child rubbed the balloon, the balloon acquired static charge. So holding a rid against it is going to cause it to repel, this is to say it is repelling because the rod also is carrying some static charges. If this rid was a conductor, there would be no charge in its surface. The charge would have passed through her hand as it comes in contact.