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Soaring Crane
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Consider a long conducting rod that is suspended by insulating strings. Assume that the rod is initially electrically neutral, and that it remains so. The rod is positioned along the x axis, and an external electric field that points in the positive x direction (to the right) can be applied to the rod and the surrounding region. The atoms in the rod are composed of positive nuclei (indicated by plus signs) and negative electrons (indicated by minus signs). Before application of the electric field, these atoms were distributed evenly throughout the rod.
Imagine that the rightward current flows in the rod for a short time. As a result, the net charge on the right end is positive and left end is negative.
The charge imbalance that results from this movement of charge will generate an additional electric field near the rod. In what direction will this field point?
Points to the left and opposes the initial applied field?
Imagine that the rightward current flows in the rod for a short time. As a result, the net charge on the right end is positive and left end is negative.
The charge imbalance that results from this movement of charge will generate an additional electric field near the rod. In what direction will this field point?
Points to the left and opposes the initial applied field?
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