Can the process of induction cause a neutral conductor to be repelled from a charged insulator? Explain.
Yes, the process of induction can cause a neutral conductor to be repelled from a charged insulator. To understand why, let's break down the process of induction and examine its effects on the neutral conductor.
During induction, a charged object (in this case, the insulator) creates an electric field in its surroundings. The electric field consists of lines of force that radiate outward from the charged insulator. When a neutral conductor is brought near the charged insulator, it will experience the influence of this electric field.
Here's how the repulsion occurs:
1. Initially, the neutral conductor has equal numbers of positive and negative charges spread evenly throughout its atoms.
2. As the charged insulator's electric field interacts with the neutral conductor, it polarizes the atoms within the conductor. The electric field exerts a force on the charges within the atoms, causing them to separate slightly.
3. The positive charges in the neutral conductor are attracted to the negative charges of the charged insulator, moving towards that side of the conductor, closer to the insulator.
4. At the same time, the negative charges in the neutral conductor are repelled by the negative charges of the insulator. These negative charges move away from the insulator, creating a region of positive charge on the opposite side of the conductor.
5. The separation of charges within the neutral conductor, induced by the electric field of the charged insulator, results in an overall charge imbalance. The side of the conductor closest to the insulator becomes positively charged, while the side farthest from the insulator becomes negatively charged.
6. Since like charges repel each other, the positively charged side of the neutral conductor experiences a repulsive force from the positively charged insulator. Consequently, the neutral conductor is pushed away or repelled from the charged insulator.
It's important to note that this type of repulsion occurs due to the polarization of charges within the neutral conductor and the resulting charge imbalance. The repulsion is a temporary phenomenon and will cease once the charged insulator is removed or the conductor is allowed to equalize its charge distribution.
In summary, induction can cause a neutral conductor to be repelled from a charged insulator due to the polarization and resulting charge imbalance induced by the electric field of the insulator.