Annoying electrostatic question

[superaznnerd]

so today we had a test about electrostatics.
here was the question:

a positive charged rod (ungrounded) is to the left of 2 metal conducting spheres, that are initially touching each other. Each metal conducting sphere is hung by a string (which is an insulator). What is the charge of each sphere when the spheres are separated, and the positive charged rod remains where it is?

Thanks

 

[0xDEADBEEF]

It depends on the exact positions of the spheres. The rod will pull more electrons on the sphere that is closer.

 

[superaznnerd]

let me rephrase the question: when the spheres separate, is one of them positive, and another negative, or do they both become neutral?

please explain. thanks

 

[porcupine6789]

If I understand your question correctly, the sphere closer to the rod would be negatively charged while the other one would become positively charged. When the spheres were touching the electrons would build up on the sphere closer to the rod because of opposite charges while the other one would become positively charged due to a loss negative charges.

 

[superaznnerd]

absolutely correct. my question is, what happens when the 2 spheres are separated? does one become positively charged, and the other become negaitvely charged?

 

[porcupine6789]

Well if there is nothing touching the two spheres together then they will remain with their respective charges.

 

[superaznnerd]

do u mean their both neutral?

 

[porcupine6789]

No I mean the one will be positive and the other will be negative.