When non-polar materials suddenly become polarized the most likely reason is due to:

When non-polar materials suddenly become polarized, it is most likely due to an external electric field being applied to the material.

To understand why this happens, let's start by explaining the concept of polarization. Polarization refers to the separation of positive and negative charges within a material, creating regions of partial positive and partial negative charges. When a material is polarized, its internal charges align in response to an external electric field.

When a non-polar material is exposed to an electric field, the positive and negative charges within the material tend to rearrange themselves according to the direction of the field. This redistribution of charges creates temporary or induced dipoles, resulting in a polarized state. In other words, the material becomes partially positive at one end and partially negative at the other end.

One common example is the polarization of a non-polar molecule, such as a molecule with a symmetrical distribution of electrons. When an electric field is applied, the electrons are displaced slightly toward the positive end of the field, giving rise to a dipole moment.

If the external electric field is strong enough, it can cause a significant polarization effect in the material. However, once the field is removed, the non-polar material will revert back to its original state.

In summary, when non-polar materials suddenly become polarized, it is usually due to the presence of an external electric field that induces a redistribution of charges within the material.