Inducing a Positive Charge on a Sphere

The animation below depicts the induction process. A neutral conducting sphere is at rest on top of an insulating stand. A negatively-charged tube is brought near to (without touching) the neutral sphere. The presence of the negatively-charged tube forces electron movement from the left to the right side of the sphere. This movement of electrons is a reaction to the presence of negative charge (like charges repel). Once touched by the ground, the electrons leave the sphere. When the tube is moved away, there is an overall positive charge left on the sphere.

The induction process is characterized by the following general features:

• There is never any contact made between the charged object and the object being charged.
• Only conductors can be charged by the induction process. Charged object can force or induce the movement of electrons about the material being charged.
• The object being charged ends up with a charge which is the opposite of the object being used to charge it.
• A ground must be used to create the charge on the object. The ground allows for electron movement into or out of the object being charged.

Дата добавления: 2014-01-05