A student investigates how charge is distributed in a conductor. She tapes two unopened cans of soda onto foam cups as shown below. The cans are touching each other. She places a negatively charged balloon near the can on the left as shown.

Question

In which direction do the negatively charged atoms inside the soda cans move?

(1 point)
Responses

From the top to bottom of the cans
From the top to bottom of the cans

From the right to the left of the cans
From the right to the left of the cans

From the bottom to the top of the cans
From the bottom to the top of the cans

From the left to the right of the cans
From the left to the right of the cans
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Answer 1

When the negatively charged balloon is brought near the left can, the negatively charged electrons in the left can will be repelled by the negative charge of the balloon. This causes the electrons to move away from the balloon, resulting in a slight positive charge on the side of the can that is closest to the balloon and a slight negative charge on the side that is furthest away.

Since the two cans are touching, the effects of the electric field will influence both cans. The repulsion of electrons in the left can will cause them to move toward the right can, effectively transferring some of the negative charge to the right can.

Therefore, the correct response is:

From the left to the right of the cans.