Question

A system consists of two uncharged metal spheres, each suspended on an insulating string and connected to the other by a thin conducting wire. A positively charged rod is brought near, but does not touch, the left sphere, and the sphere is attracted to the rod. Which of the following is correct about the net charge on the right sphere as a result? A) The right sphere has a negative charge. B) The right sphere has a positive charge. C) The right sphere is charged, but the sign of the charge cannot be determined. D) The right sphere is still uncharged.

Answer 1

When a positively charged rod is brought near one of two interconnected uncharged metal spheres, negative charges are attracted towards the rod while positive charges are repelled to the right sphere. The right sphere ends up with a positive charge due to the separation of charges. Hence, choice B) The right sphere has a positive charge, is correct.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a positively charged rod is brought near one of two interconnected uncharged metal spheres, it induces a separation of charges due to electrostatic induction. The negative charges in the left sphere are attracted towards the rod, while the positive charges are repelled to the right sphere. Since the spheres are connected by a conducting wire, the negative charge can freely move to the left sphere while the positive charge is pushed to the right sphere. Upon removing the conducting wire before taking away the charged rod, the right sphere ends up with a positive charge.

So, as a result of this, when a positively charged rod is brought near the left sphere and the sphere is attracted to the rod, the correct answer about the net charge on the right sphere is that the right sphere has a positive charge. This process is known as charging by induction. Therefore, the correct choice is B) The right sphere has a positive charge.

Answer 2

The correct answer is B) When a positively charged rod is brought near one sphere, it attracts negative charges in that sphere and causes the other sphere to become positively charged.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a positively charged rod is brought near the left metal sphere, it attracts negative charges in the sphere, causing the sphere to become negatively charged. This is because opposite charges attract each other. Since the spheres are connected by a conducting wire, the negatively charged electrons are free to move and redistribute themselves between the spheres. This causes the right sphere to become positively charged.

So, the correct answer is B) The right sphere has a positive charge.