Question

Two metal spheres are hanging from nylon threads. When you bring the spheres close to each other, they tend to attract. Based on this information alone, discuss all the possible ways that the spheres could be charged. Is it possible that after the spheres touch, they will cling together? Explain.

Short answer

The spheres can be oppositely charged or one neutral and one charged. They cannot cling together after they physically contact each other

Step-by-step solution

Concept of static electricity.

This is a phenomenon in Physics in which there is a finite transfer of charged particles from one object to another when there is an excess charge pile up or an imbalance of charge at someplace. As an example, if two insulating objects are vigorously rubbed they can acquire equal and opposite charges.

Explanation and discussion of possible ways of charging the spheres.

According to the nature of the charges, when two objects possess like charges then they will repel, while if they have unlike charges then they will attract. In this case, the spheres when brought close are showing a tendency to attract. This implies that they both possess a charge of opposite nature, i.e. one is positively charged and another is negatively charged.

Therefore, there are two possible ways the spheres are charged.

1. One sphere is neutral and another is charged either positively or negatively.

2. Both spheres carries opposite charges.

There is less possibility that the spheres will cling together because if one sphere is neutral then there will be a flow of the same charge from the other sphere and thus they will repel during their contact.