Question

William writes the following description of how objects are attracted to each other.

Charges transfer from one object to another. A charged object next to an uncharged object will repel each other. A positively charged object and a negatively charged object will attract each other.
What is the error in William's description?
a) A charged and uncharged object attract each other.
b) Charges are transferred from water to objects.
c) Transfer of charges occurs due to heat.
d) Two charged objects attract each other.

Answer 1

William's description contains an error in stating that charges transfer from one object to another. In reality, charges are not transferred but rather redistributed or rearranged within an object. When a charged object is brought near an uncharged object, the charges within each object are attracted or repelled resulting in an overall attraction or repulsion between the objects.

Step-by-step explanation:

William's description contains an error in the statement that charges transfer from one object to another. In reality, charges are not transferred from one object to another but rather redistributed or rearranged within an object. When a charged object is brought near an uncharged object, the charges within each object are attracted or repelled resulting in an overall attraction or repulsion between the objects.

For example, if a positively charged object is brought near an uncharged object, the positive charges within the uncharged object will be attracted towards the positively charged object, resulting in an overall attraction between the objects. Similarly, if a positively charged object is brought near a negatively charged object, the opposite charges attract each other, resulting in an overall attraction.

Therefore, the correct statement is that an uncharged object can be attracted to a charged object through the rearrangement of charges within the objects, not through the transfer of charges.