Question

Draw a series of diagrams that show the differences between bringing a charged pith ball near a neutral aluminum rod and near a neutral acrylic rod. Describe what you would observe and explain it using the model of electrons as mobile charge carriers.

Are aluminum and acrylic different in terms of the mobility of the electrons in them? Explain how what you would observe helps you answer this.

Answer 1

If you bring a charged object near a conductor (aluminium rod) , you will induce electrons to redistribute in the material even though there is no physical contact. This method of charging is called charging by induction. However, when a charged rod is brought near an insulator, there are no free electrons that can migrate through the insulating material(acrylic rod) . Instead, there is a rearrangement of charges within the atoms and molecules themselves. One side of the atom or molecule is induced into becoming more negative (or positive) than the opposite side. The atom or molecule is said to be electrically polarized.

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