An electric field around two charged objects is shown.

Question

Two spheres next to each other. Vectors perpendicular to each surface spread out and go to the other charge. The vectors are from the charge on the left, labeled X, and to the other charge, labeled Y. The vectors on the opposite sides of the charges are not bent.
What are the charges of objects X and Y?

X: negative
Y: positive
X: positive
Y: positive
X: negative
Y: negative
X: positive
Y: negative

Answer 1

To determine the charges of objects X and Y based on the description of the electric field lines, we can consider the following principles:

1. Direction of Electric Field Lines: Electric field lines point away from positive charges and towards negative charges. This means that if the lines are emanating from a particular sphere, that sphere must be positively charged. Conversely, if the lines are converging towards a sphere, it must be negatively charged.

2. Interaction of Charges: Like charges repel each other, while opposite charges attract each other. If the field lines are bending towards the other sphere, it indicates attraction, suggesting that one is positive and the other negative. If the lines were simply spreading out without bending, that would indicate repulsion, which means both charges are the same type (either both positive or both negative).

Given the information provided:

• The vectors from charge X are spreading out towards charge Y.
• This indicates that charge Y is likely negative (because the lines are pointing towards it).

Thus, we can conclude that:

• X is positive (since field lines are emanating from it).
• Y is negative (since the field lines are pointing towards it).

So the correct pairing is:

X: positive Y: negative.