Question

A negatively charged electroscope has separated leaves.

a. Suppose you bring a negatively charged rod close to the top of the electroscope, but not touching. How will the leaves respond? Use both charge diagrams and words to explain.

b. How will the leaves respond if you bring a positively charged rod close to the top of the electroscope, but not touching? Use both charge diagrams and words to explain

Short answer

a. The leaves move farther away.

b. The leaves move close together.

Step-by-step solution

Content Introduction

When the charge is negative, the electrons in the electroscope's metal reject each other and move toward the bottom leaves. The leaves get a temporary negative charge as a result of this, and because like charges repel each other, the leaves separate once more.

Explanation (Part a)

The negatively charged rod repels the negative charges on the electroscope's top, additional negative charge is pushed down the leaves. Therefore, the leaves will become further apart.

Explanation (Part b)

While the rod is nearby, the leaves will split. Because no additional electrons were supplied to the electroscope, the electrons will redistribute when the negatively charged rod is removed. The leaves return to a state of neutrality, and they no longer reject each other. Therefore, the leaves will begin to shut in on each other.