Question

Can a wire carry a current and still be neutral—that is, have a total charge of zero? Explain.

a) Yes, because the charges are balanced by an equal number of positive and negative charges.

b) No, current flow implies a net charge.

c) Yes, but only in superconductors.

d) No, only insulators can be neutral.

Answer 1

Yes, a wire can carry a current and still be neutral because the positive and negative charges are balanced.

Step-by-step explanation:

Yes, a wire can carry a current and still be neutral. This is because the current is carried by moving charge carriers, such as electrons in a metal wire. In a neutral wire, the positive and negative charges are balanced, with an equal number of positive and negative charges, resulting in a total charge of zero.

For example, in a metal wire, electrons are the charge carriers. When a current flows through the wire, electrons move from the negative terminal to the positive terminal. However, the wire as a whole remains neutral because there is an equal number of positive charges (protons in the atoms of the wire) and negative charges (electrons).