Question

Let's bring a positively charged rod near a conductor. Now since some electrons in outer shells are not strongly bound to atoms,they will get to the side near the rod. But why does it mean that dipole is formed in that conductor? We take the vertical cross sections of the conductor. Now,in each vertical layer,there will be atoms. So electrons from each vertical layer will get to the side of the rod. If that happens,except from the region closest to the rod,there will be positive charge in every cross section. Hence,apart from the very region towards the rod,the entirety of the conductor will be positively charged since electrons have left from each of the cross sections. As we can see dipole(positive at one side and negative on another side) hasn't been created,rather negative at a very small region and positive charges throughout the rest of the conductor.

The logic that the rod will push the positive charges at the extreme end also doesn't work since atoms are firmly immovable. So why is it still said that dipole is created as a result of electrostatic induction whereas we have proved that it isn't the case?

Answer 1

When a positively charged rod is brought near a conductor, the presence of electric charges on the rod induces a redistribution of charge in the conductor, creating an electric dipole. The conduction electrons in the conductor are attracted to the rod, leaving behind a positive charge in the farthest part of the conductor.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a positively charged rod is brought near a conductor, the presence of electric charges on the rod induces a redistribution of charge in the conductor, creating what is called an electric dipole. The conduction electrons in the conductor, which are negatively charged, are attracted to the positively charged rod and move towards it, leaving behind a positive charge in the part of the conductor farthest from the rod. This creates a dipole with a positive end and a negative end in the conductor.

The formation of the dipole occurs because the electrons in the outer shells of the atoms in the conductor are not strongly bound to the atoms and can move freely. As a result, when the positive rod is brought near the conductor, the electrons from each vertical layer of atoms in the conductor are attracted to the side of the rod, creating a positive charge in each vertical section of the conductor, except for the region closest to the rod.

Although the atoms in the conductor are immovable, the redistribution of conduction electrons creates a charge distribution in the conductor. This charge distribution results in a positive charge in the part of the conductor farthest from the rod, while the region closest to the rod is negatively charged. It is this redistribution of charge that gives rise to the formation of the dipole in the conductor.