To neutralize a pithball electroscope all you have to do is to hold it for a very short time. Explain what happens to discharge the pith ball if it is

a)negatively charged
b)positively charged

a) To neutralize a negatively charged pithball electroscope, you need to bring a positively charged object close to it. This can be done by holding the positively charged object, such as a plastic rod that has been rubbed with fur, near the negatively charged pithball.

When the positively charged object is brought close to the negatively charged pithball, the opposite charges attract each other. The positive charges from the object are attracted towards the negatively charged pithball. This causes some of the negative charges on the pithball to move away, resulting in a transfer of electrons from the pithball to the object.

As a result, the pithball loses some of its negative charge and becomes partially neutralized. The redistribution of charges leads to a decrease in the potential difference between the pithball and the electroscope, ultimately neutralizing the electroscope.

b) Similarly, to neutralize a positively charged pithball electroscope, you need to bring a negatively charged object close to it. This can be done by holding the negatively charged object, such as a glass rod that has been rubbed with silk, near the positively charged pithball.

When the negatively charged object is brought close to the positively charged pithball, the opposite charges again attract each other. The negative charges from the object are attracted towards the positively charged pithball. This causes some of the positive charges on the pithball to move away, resulting in a transfer of electrons from the object to the pithball.

As a result, the pithball loses some of its positive charge and becomes partially neutralized. The redistribution of charges leads to a decrease in the potential difference between the pithball and the electroscope, eventually neutralizing the electroscope.