A positively charged rod is brought close to a neutral conducting sphere
PHYSICS · Single correct · AP · Physics 2: Algebra-based · Electric Force Field and Potential · Electric Force Field and Potential
Problem
A positively charged rod is brought close to a neutral conducting sphere. The sphere is then connected to ground. While the ground connection is still attached, the rod is removed to a distant location, and only after that is the ground connection broken. Which of the following best states the net charge on the sphere once all connections and objects have been removed?
(a) Zero, because the extra electrons simply spread out uniformly when the rod is removed
(b) Negative, because electrons remain that were attracted from Earth
(c) Positive, because electrons were repelled into the ground while the sphere was connected
(d) Variable, because the final charge depends on the rod’s initial charge magnitude