Static Electricity - Mission SE6 Detailed Help


A negatively charged balloon is brought near a neutral conducting sphere as shown below. As it approaches, charge within the sphere will distribute itself in a very specific manner. Which one of the diagrams below properly depicts the distribution of charge in the sphere?


 
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.


 
Opposites attract. Likes repel. And only electrons can move. That's the key to understanding charging by induction. When the balloon is brought near the neutral conducting sphere, it induces the movement of electrons within the sphere. Which way do electrons move? If the balloon is negative, it will repel the electrons to the opposite side of the sphere leaving excess positive charge on the nearby side. If the balloon is positive, it will attract the electrons from the opposite side of the sphere leaving excess positive charge on the opposite side.