An electrically neutral metal sphere hangs from an insulating thread. A charged glass wand is brought near to the sphere. Describe what occurs next.
A) The sphere is attracted to the wand
B) The sphere is neither attracted nor repelled, since it is electrically neutral
C) The sphere is repelled by the wand
D) The sphere will become charged

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When a charged object is brought near a neutral conductor, the charges in the conductor rearrange themselves—a process known as induction. The side of the sphere closer to the wand will have charges opposite to those on the wand, causing attraction. The sphere remains electrically neutral overall; it does not become charged simply by being near the charged wand.

An Electrically Neutral Metal Sphere Hangs from an Insulating Thread