Question

Flow of electricity using two charged balls.

Let us take a positively charged ball and a negatively charged ball and join them with a metal rod. Now if we connect one end of a wire with the positively charged one and the other end of the wire with a negatively charged one,shouldn't there be a flow of electricity(i.e a bulb lights up)? Because the balls+rod system is behaving like a battery here since positive charge is at one end and negative charge is at the other hand meaning higher potential(positive charge) and lower potential(negative charge) at two ends. So here is potential difference. Also since the balls are joined with a metal rod,electrons can pass through the rod after coming at the positively charged ball and hence constant flow of electrons can be ensured. I know this isn't possible in real life. So where am I making the flaws?

Answer 1

When two charged balls are connected with a metal rod, there would not be a continuous flow of electricity, and a bulb would not light up. In order for the flow of electrons to be continuous, a complete circuit is needed.

Step-by-step explanation:

When two charged balls are connected with a metal rod, the potential difference between them allows for the flow of electricity. However, in this setup, the flow of electrons would not be continuous, and therefore, a bulb would not light up.

Here's why:

1. Initially, Ball 1 would have a positive charge and Ball 2 would have a negative charge.
2. The negatively charged rod would attract the positive charge of Ball 1, causing some of its electrons to transfer to Ball 2.
3. Although the balls have opposite charges, they are still connected, and the overall charge of the system remains neutral.
4. If Ball 2 is momentarily grounded while the rod is still there, it will lose its negative charge to the ground.
5. However, this does not create a continuous flow of electrons. Electrons would move from Ball 1 to Ball 2 when the connection is made, but then they would stay on Ball 2 and not continue to flow.

In order to create a continuous flow of electrons and light up a bulb, a complete circuit is needed, where electrons can travel in a loop from a high potential (positive end) to a low potential (negative end).