Electrostatics: Grounding and Induction

What happens when a negatively charged rubber rod is brought near a neutral conducting sphere?

Grounding a conductor connects it to a source of unlimited electrons.

What is the term used to describe the process by which a charge is induced on a conductor without direct contact?

Charging an object by induction requires contact with a third object that serves as a source or a __________ of electrons.

Match the following terms with their definitions:

What is the final state of the conducting sphere after the induced charge process when the charged rod is removed?

In the process of induction, the charged rubber rod loses some of its negative charge.

What occurs to the electrons in the conducting sphere when it is grounded?

The process of inducing a charge requires a connection to a third object that either serves as a __________ or a sink.

What role does Earth play in the process of grounding a conductor?

Grounding and Induction

Grounding a conductor connects it to Earth via a conducting medium, making Earth an infinite reservoir for electrons.
Earth can absorb an unlimited number of electrons, which is vital for understanding the charging process of conductors.

Charging by Induction

A negatively charged rubber rod near a neutral conducting sphere causes a redistribution of charges due to repulsion.
The side of the sphere closest to the rubber rod develops a positive charge as electrons are repelled away.
If a grounded wire is connected to the sphere, electrons will flow from the sphere to Earth, decreasing the sphere's negative charge.

Process of Induction

Once the grounded wire is removed while keeping the rubber rod in place, the sphere retains an overall positive charge due to the loss of electrons.
After removing the rubber rod, the positive charge on the sphere remains, and the charge distributes uniformly over the sphere's surface.

Characteristics of Induction

Charging by induction does not require physical contact with the charge-inducing object.
It necessitates contact with a third object (e.g., the ground) that can absorb excess charges, acting as a charge sink, like Earth.
This method contrasts with charging by direct contact, where charges are transferred directly between two objects.

Summary of Key Concepts

Induction allows for charging without physical contact between charged objects; it relies on the influence of an external charged object and a connection to a charge reservoir.
The rubber rod remains negatively charged after the process since no charge was transferred from it to the sphere.

This quiz explores the concepts of grounding and induction in electrostatics. Understand how conductors interact with electric charges and the underlying principles that govern these processes. It delves into how grounding can affect charge distribution and the effects of inducing charges in conductors.