Electricity - polarization/grounding

[Elbobo]

Homework Statement

http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/2530/electronsvc5.jpg
http://g.imageshack.us/img99/electronsvc5.jpg/1/

Homework Equations

none

The Attempt at a Solution

So in step 3, the positive ball Y is grounded. But protons can't move into the ground and all (most) of the electrons are in ball X. I was thinking the electrons in ball X were too heavily attracted by ball + to travel through ball Y to get to the ground.

So the answer should be X = negative, and Y = positive, right? Because nothing really happened when it was grounded...

 

[Gear300]

It is possible that Y neutralized while it was grounded...electrons from the ground could come up and neutralize Y (you could expect current when there is a potential difference).

 

[Elbobo]

It is possible that Y neutralized while it was grounded...electrons from the ground could come up and neutralize Y (you could expect current when there is a potential difference).

But then after Y is neutralized, the electrons would still move over to X because of the + ball attracts them while they're still connected. So would X still be negative and Y positive?

THEN I see in step 5 that the + ball is removed before the balls are removed from each other. Is this implying they neutralize each other after the + ball is taken away?


EDIT: OK, the answer turned out to be negative and negative, WHICH MAKES NO SENSE. How can protons travel through the wire into the ground?!