Static Electricity - Mission SE6 Detailed Help


A negatively charged balloon is brought near a neutral conducting sphere. While the balloon is near, the sphere is touched (grounded). At this point, there is a movement of protons. Protons move ____.


 
Charging by Induction:
Charging by induction is a charging process that involves charging an object without touching the object to a charged object. The charged object is brought near to the object to be charged (a neutral object). The charged object's presence induces a movement of electrons within the neutral object, causing it to become polarized. Then the neutral object is touched to a ground, causing a transfer of electrons between ground the neutral object. The ground is pulled away, the charged object is pulled away and the neutral object has been charged. When the process is complete, both objects are charged with the opposite type of charge.


 
Many students have the misconception that a negatively charged balloon will attract protons and move them from one location to another location. But don't be fooled! Protons are indeed positively charged and attracted to negatively charged objects and repelled by positively charged objects. But protons are present in the nucleus of atoms and are tightly bound in that location. As such, protons are unable to be moved from one location to another location. The charging of objects always occurs by a movement of electrons - either off an object or onto an object. Protons never move.