A small metal ball (mass negligible for this problem) initially has a charge of
PHYSICS · Multi-part · CBSE · Physics · Electric Charges and Fields · Electric Charges and Fields
Problem
A small metal ball (mass negligible for this problem) initially has a charge of −3.20×10−9C. The ball is gently touched to a very large neutral metal plate and then separated from it.
(a) Assuming the plate is so large that its electric potential does not change appreciably, determine the net charge that remains on the small ball after contact.
(b) Calculate the number of electrons that must have left or entered the small ball during the contact. Specify the direction of electron flow.
(c) While the ball is still in contact with the plate, explain why the electric forces acting on any individual electron in the combined system favor the direction of flow you identified in part (b).
(d) After the ball is removed, describe the subsequent distribution of the transferred charge on the large plate and explain your answer in terms of charge mobility in conductors.