A rod made from insulating material carries a net charge, while a copper sphere is neutral. The rod and the sphere do not touch.

(a) Is it possible for the rod and the sphere to attract one another?

(b) Is it possible for the rod and the sphere to repel one another?

Explain both answers

3 answers

Positive charges will tend to move to the far end of the sphere, away from the rod, while an equal number of negative charge move to the other side. What you think the answers are? Someone will be happy to critique your thinking

(a) yes

b) no