When a charged object is connected to a grounded capacitor, the charge of the object decreases as it transfers some of its charge to the capacitor, which initially was uncharged. The capacitor's plate acquires the same charge as the object, while the grounded side of the capacitor draws an equal but opposite charge from the ground. This creates a potential difference between the capacitor plates, allowing energy to be stored. Electrons cannot move between the plates due to the insulating material separating them. Charge does not disappear in a local system; it is redistributed between the charged object and the capacitor.