Final answer:
An electrically polarized object is one whose charges have been rearranged, leading to an uneven distribution of positive and negative charges within the object. The correct answer to the question is D. its charges have been rearranged.
Step-by-step explanation:
To say that an object is electrically polarized means that its charges have been rearranged. This can occur without the object necessarily being charged overall. For example, in conductors, free charges can move easily, resulting in one side of the object having more negative charges, while the other side has corresponding positive charges. The same can happen in dielectrics (insulators) where polar molecules align with an external electric field, causing one side to have more negative charges and the other side to have more positive charges. Therefore, the correct answer to the question is D. its charges have been rearranged.
Electric charge is a conserved property and comes in two types: positive and negative. Like charges repel each other, and opposite charges attract each other. Polarization occurs when an object's positive and negative charges are separated within itself. While a polarized object may be neutral overall, its internal charge distribution is not uniform. This is important to remember because it helps explain phenomena such as the attraction of neutral objects to charged ones: the charges within the neutral object can still be influenced and rearranged, effectively creating a polarized state.