In experiments involving a pithball electroscope, what causes the pithball to move? repulsion?
attraction?
The movement of the pithball in experiments involving a pithball electroscope can be caused by either repulsion or attraction depending on the situation.
If a charged object is brought near the pithball, the pithball will experience a force of attraction or repulsion depending on whether the charged object has the same or opposite charge as the pithball. If the charged object has the same charge, the pithball will experience a force of repulsion and move away from the charged object. If the charged object has the opposite charge, the pithball will experience a force of attraction and move towards the charged object.
So, in summary, the movement of the pithball in experiments involving a pithball electroscope can be caused by either repulsion or attraction depending on the charge of the nearby object.
When the attraction to the object approaches the the pithball there is an immediate repulsion is the answer.
No, that is not correct. If there is an attraction between the charged object and the pithball in a pithball electroscope, then the pithball will move towards the charged object, not repel it. The pithball will only repel when there is a charge on the pithball that is the same as the charge on the approaching object.
Here's an example: If a positively charged object is brought near the pithball, the pithball will experience an attractive force towards the object, and will move towards it. But if a second positively charged object is brought near the pithball, and brought close enough that it repels the pithball, then the pithball will move away from that second object.
In summary, if the charges are the same, there will be a repulsion, and if the charges are opposite, there will be an attraction.
Yes, in experiments involving a pithball electroscope, the pithball moves due to the principle of electrostatic repulsion. When the pithball is initially neutral (uncharged), it is attracted to a charged object due to the presence of opposite charges. However, once it comes into contact with the charged object or experiences the influence of its electric field, it acquires a similar charge through the process of charging by induction.
During induction, the pithball becomes polarized, meaning that its charges are rearranged. The electrons in the pithball are repelled by the negative charge of the charged object, causing them to move away from the point of contact and distribute themselves across the surface of the pithball. Consequently, the pithball develops a positive charge due to the deficiency of electrons in that region.
Since like charges repel each other, the positively charged pithball is repelled by the positively charged object or its electric field, causing the pithball to move away. This deflection of the pithball indicates the presence of a charge, either positive or negative, in the vicinity.
In summary, the pithball moves due to electrostatic repulsion caused by the charges acquired during the process of induction.