A scientist wipes a rubber rod with a wool cloth which leads to a negative charge on the rod. After this, the scientist touches the rod to a neutral metal sphere. This will transfer the negative charges from the rod to the sphere: Which statement explains what will happen to the negative charge, and why? (1 point) Responses It will only spread to the air around the sphere, because negative charges need to occupy a big area. It will only spread to the air around the sphere, because negative charges need to occupy a big area. It will spread uniformly over the surface of the sphere, because of the conducting nature of the sphere and similar charges push away from each other. It will spread uniformly over the surface of the sphere, because of the conducting nature of the sphere and similar charges push away from each other. It will slowly move to the bottom of the sphere, because the charges are heavy and will sink to the bottom. It will slowly move to the bottom of the sphere, because the charges are heavy and will sink to the bottom. It will remain only on one spot of the sphere, because the low conductivity of the metal prevents the charges from spreading out.
The correct statement is: "It will spread uniformly over the surface of the sphere, because of the conducting nature of the sphere and similar charges push away from each other."
When the rubbed rubber rod touches the neutral metal sphere, some of the excess negative charges on the rod will transfer onto the sphere. Since the metal sphere is a conductor, the negative charges will be able to move freely within the sphere. The like charges repel each other and distribute themselves as far away from each other as possible. This results in the negative charge spreading uniformly over the surface of the sphere.