Earthing a Conductor: I Have Two Spheres

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When a negatively charged sphere is connected to the Earth, excess electrons flow to the ground until equilibrium is reached. Conversely, when a positively charged sphere is connected, electrons from the Earth move towards the sphere to neutralize its positive charge due to the potential difference. The flow of electrons continues until the voltage between the sphere and the Earth is zero, creating a balance of charges. Positive charges, primarily protons within atomic nuclei, are generally immobile, making it easier for electrons to move. This distinction explains why electrons can flow to neutralize positive charges, while positive charges themselves do not move to the Earth.
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I have two sphere.

1) one with free electron, if i connected sphere with the Earth by conducting wire all the free electron will flow to the earth.

2) one with positive charge, if i connected sphere with the Earth by conducting wire then the electron from the Earth will flow to the sphere and neutralize the positive charge


Why does this happen ? what this the reason behind this?
 
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The voltage difference is equivalent to a force ... which moves the excess charge from one reservoir to the other.
 
Hardik Batra said:
I have two sphere.

1) one with free electron, if i connected sphere with the Earth by conducting wire all the free electron will flow to the earth.

2) one with positive charge, if i connected sphere with the Earth by conducting wire then the electron from the Earth will flow to the sphere and neutralize the positive charge


Why does this happen ? what this the reason behind this?

Not 'all' the surplus electrons will flow to the Earth. The flow will stop when the charge is shared appropriately between Earth and the conductor.
The same thing will apply to the positively charged conductor.
In both cases there will be a net imbalance of + and - charges unless the two spheres have equal and opposite charges.
 
UltrafastPED said:
The voltage difference is equivalent to a force ... which moves the excess charge from one reservoir to the other.

In first condition,
the first sphere has excess of electron that will flow to the ground.

but happens in the second case.

Why the electron will flow from Earth to the sphere.
 
Hardik Batra said:
but happens in the second case.

Why the electron will flow from Earth to the sphere.

Because a potential difference (voltage) exists between the sphere and the Earth. The electrons in the ground are attracted to the positive charge of the sphere and move towards it until the voltage between the ground and the sphere is zero.
 
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Drakkith said:
Because a potential difference (voltage) exists between the sphere and the Earth. The electrons in the ground are attracted to the positive charge of the sphere and move towards it until the voltage between the ground and the sphere is zero.

Earth has infinite number of free electron.
And it has greater attraction force on positively charge sphere.
then why the positive charge will not go from sphere to earth.?
 
Have a think about where the +ve charges are in an atom.
 
Hardik Batra said:
Earth has infinite number of free electron.
And it has greater attraction force on positively charge sphere.
then why the positive charge will not go from sphere to earth.?

Because most positive charges are not mobile. It is always much easier to move electrons.
 
UltrafastPED said:
Because most positive charges are not mobile. It is always much easier to move electrons.

But moving electrons Away from an object is totally the equivalent of adding Positive charge.
 
  • #10
Hardik Batra said:
Earth has infinite number of free electron.
And it has greater attraction force on positively charge sphere.
then why the positive charge will not go from sphere to earth.?

The positive charges are the protons inside the nucleus of the atoms. These are generally immobile and cannot move, unlike the electrons which exist in the electron cloud around the nucleus and can be made to move fairly easily.
 
  • #11
I like the way sophiecentaur puts it. Positive charge does move, positively charged particles do not.
 
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