Charging by induction

Back to 5A - Electrostatics
PIRA index: 5A40.10

Description

Charges redistribute themselves in a conductor under the influence of an external electrostatic field. For example, a positive charge close to a neutral conductor will attract the negative charges in the conductor to the closest surface, leaving the opposite side with a positive charge.

With this principle, an object A can be charged if it is grounded while another charged object B is held close. The induction pushes the charges in the ground. Disconnecting the ground and taking away the charged object B, object A will be left with an opposite charge. The electrophorus works on that principle.

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