Multiple Choice Question

Question

A student is investigating the distribution of charge in a conductor. He attaches two unopened soda cans on their sides to two foam cups with tape. He sets the soda cans with the cups onto a tabletop so that they are touching one another. Then he moves a negatively charged balloon close to the left soda can. The set up for the investigation is shown.

How do the electrons move in the soda cans?
A.
They move to the top of both cans.

B.
They move to the bottom in both cans.

C.
They move from the right can to the left can.

D.
They move from the left can to the right can.

Answer 1

When a negatively charged balloon is brought near the left soda can, the negative charges (electrons) in the left can are repelled by the balloon due to electrostatic repulsion. This causes the electrons in the left soda can to move away from the side nearest the balloon, which means they move towards the bottom of the left can.

The electrons in the right can will be attracted towards the left can due to the positive charge created by the absence of electrons in the left can (caused by repulsion from the balloon). Therefore, electrons will also move from the right can to the left can in response to this charge separation.

The correct answer is:

C. They move from the right can to the left can.