Basic electrostatic induction

In summary, when a positively charged ball is brought near a neutral conductor, the conductor will be attracted to the charged ball due to electrostatic induction. This is because the electrons in the conductor will be polarized, causing an overall attraction towards the charged ball. While it is easier to observe this attraction with insulators such as paper or hair, it can also be demonstrated with conductors using certain setups.
  • #1
taisiu
2
0

Homework Statement


When a positively charged ball is brought near a neutral conductor(a light metal ball), will the metal ball be attracted towards the charged ball?


Homework Equations



This is electrostatic induction.


The Attempt at a Solution


Like a charged rod can attract the paper(insulation) by the polarization of atoms.
So similarly, I think the lots of electrons will move to one side of metal ball and the whole metal ball will be attracted to the +ve charged ball. The attractive force is even greater than the insulator like plastic ball.

Thanks~~
 
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  • #2
Your reasoning is correct.
 
  • #3
kuruman said:
Your reasoning is correct.

Thanks
However, in my text there's only description of polarization but no description of the attraction of conductors. Same thing happens on the web. Also, people always show attraction of water flow, paper, hair;but not conductor.
So why's that? Is it because the attraction of insulator is much larger and observable?
Thanks!
 
  • #4
taisiu said:
Thanks
However, in my text there's only description of polarization but no description of the attraction of conductors. Same thing happens on the web. Also, people always show attraction of water flow, paper, hair;but not conductor.
So why's that? Is it because the attraction of insulator is much larger and observable?
Thanks!
Yes, it is easier to see flowing water being deflected electrostatically than a metal conductor. For conductor attraction on the web, see for example

http://www.physicsdemos.com/demo.php?demo_id=400&path_id=69 [Broken]
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #5


Your explanation is correct. When a positively charged ball is brought near a neutral conductor, the positive charge will attract the negative charges in the conductor, causing them to move to one side of the conductor. This creates an imbalance of charge, with one side of the conductor being more positively charged and the other side being more negatively charged. This imbalance of charge creates an attractive force between the charged ball and the conductor, causing the conductor to be pulled towards the charged ball. This is known as electrostatic induction and is an important principle in understanding how charges interact with each other.
 

1. What is electrostatic induction?

Electrostatic induction is the process by which a charged object can induce a temporary charge on a neutral object without direct contact. This is due to the repulsion or attraction of the charged object's electric field on the electrons in the neutral object.

2. How does electrostatic induction work?

Electrostatic induction works by bringing a charged object near a neutral object. The charged object's electric field will repel or attract the electrons in the neutral object, causing them to temporarily move or redistribute. This results in a temporary charge on the neutral object.

3. What is the difference between electrostatic induction and conduction?

The main difference between electrostatic induction and conduction is that induction does not require direct contact between the charged and neutral objects, while conduction does. In conduction, electrons physically transfer from one object to another, while in induction, they only redistribute within the neutral object.

4. What are some real-life applications of electrostatic induction?

Electrostatic induction has many practical applications, including electrostatic painting, electrostatic precipitators used in air purifiers, and electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection in electronic devices. It is also used in photocopiers and laser printers to transfer toner to paper.

5. How can electrostatic induction be controlled or manipulated?

Electrostatic induction can be controlled by varying the distance between the charged and neutral objects, as well as the charge on the inducing object. It can also be manipulated by using different materials for the charged and neutral objects, as some materials are better conductors or insulators of electricity.

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