A student rubs a rubber rod with fur, producing a negative charge on the rod. The student then touches the rod to a hollow, neutral metal sphere that stands on an insulating plastic stand. This transfers negative charges from the rod to the sphere:
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Which statement best predicts what will happen to the charge, and why?
Responses
It will quickly spread to the air around the sphere, because it will seek to occupy as large a volume of neutral matter as possible.
It will quickly spread to the air around the sphere, because it will seek to occupy as large a volume of neutral matter as possible.
It will slowly drift to the bottom of the sphere because the charges rapidly attach to individual atoms, making them slightly heavier than surrounding atoms.
It will slowly drift to the bottom of the sphere because the charges rapidly attach to individual atoms, making them slightly heavier than surrounding atoms.
It will distribute itself evenly over the surface of the sphere, because like charges repel and the sphere is a conductor.
It will distribute itself evenly over the surface of the sphere, because like charges repel and the sphere is a conductor.
It will remain at the point of contact between the rod and the sphere, because resistance in the metal prevents the charges from easily moving.
It will remain at the point of contact between the rod and the sphere, because resistance in the metal prevents the charges from easily moving
It will distribute itself evenly over the surface of the sphere, because like charges repel and the sphere is a conductor. This is because the negative charges on the rubber rod will repel the negative charges on the metal sphere, causing them to spread out as evenly as possible over the surface of the sphere. The fact that the sphere is a conductor means that the charges will be able to move freely throughout it.
Is that the answer
Yes, that is the correct answer.
Thank you
You're welcome! If you have any more questions, feel free to ask.
The correct answer is: "It will distribute itself evenly over the surface of the sphere, because like charges repel and the sphere is a conductor."
When the student touches the negatively charged rod to the neutral metal sphere, the negative charges on the rod will transfer onto the sphere. The charges will distribute themselves evenly over the surface of the sphere because like charges repel each other.
Explanation:
In this scenario, the hollow metal sphere is a conductor, which means that its electrons are free to move within the material. When the negatively charged rod is touched to the metal sphere, the excess negative charges on the rod will repel the electrons within the metal sphere, causing them to redistribute themselves evenly over the entire surface of the sphere.
Since the sphere is neutral before the transfer of charges, the total charge after the transfer will be negative, but it will be distributed uniformly across the surface. This is because the negative charges repel each other and will spread out as far apart as possible.
It is important to note that in a conductor, charges are free to move due to the presence of mobile electrons. This allows for the redistribution of charges and the establishment of equilibrium. However, if the sphere was an insulator rather than a conductor, the charges would not be able to move easily and they would remain at the point of contact between the rod and the sphere.