A positively charged light metal ball is suspended between two oppositely charged metal plates on an insulating thread as shown below. After being charged once, the plates are disconnected from the battery. Describe the behavior of the ball.
Thank you so much!
Could you please describe the behavior of the ball that is centered between the two plates that are not attached. The brackets represent the plates and the parenthesis represent the hanging ball on an insulator thread.
[+] (+) [-]
Thank you so so much!
2 answers
The ball goes from plate to plate, until they are discharged. I will be happy to critique your explanation of this.
Hi bobpursley. Thank you very much for the starting point. Here goes my guess at the explanation:
The positive ball would go first to the negatively charged plate. After which, it would hold a more negative charge. Due to the negative charge, it would travel towards the positive plate. Thereby, it would transfer negative electrons to the positive plate. Leaving the positive plate, it would be more positive and be drawn towards the negative plate once more. In doing so, it would transfer positive protons to the negative plate. After which, it would hold more negative electrons and be drawn towards the positive plate once more. The process would continue until the once-positive and once-negative became neutral (and were discharged. Additionally, the ball hanging on the insulator thread would also be neutral (and discharged).
Thank you so much for the help! Please let me know if this explanation is correct.
The positive ball would go first to the negatively charged plate. After which, it would hold a more negative charge. Due to the negative charge, it would travel towards the positive plate. Thereby, it would transfer negative electrons to the positive plate. Leaving the positive plate, it would be more positive and be drawn towards the negative plate once more. In doing so, it would transfer positive protons to the negative plate. After which, it would hold more negative electrons and be drawn towards the positive plate once more. The process would continue until the once-positive and once-negative became neutral (and were discharged. Additionally, the ball hanging on the insulator thread would also be neutral (and discharged).
Thank you so much for the help! Please let me know if this explanation is correct.
2 answers