Subject Code PHY 2 Physics 2

Module Code 7.0 Electrostatics

Lesson Code 7.1.2 Electrostatic Charges and Charge Transfer, Part 2
Time Frame 30 minutes

Components Tasks TA1 ATA2

(min) (min)
Ignite
Charging by Conduction 17
Charging by conduction is sometimes called charging by contact.
From the name itself, the transfer of electrons happens when a
charged body touches a neutral object.

Figure 1 shows a negatively charged sphere brought in contact with

a neutral electroscope. Electroscope is a device used to detect the
presence of electric charge. Since the electrons in the sphere found
an opportunity to spread themselves more, the electrons distribute
themselves evenly in the sphere-electroscope system. When the
charging is complete the sphere remains negatively charged, but
this time with less excess number of electrons, and the neutral
electroscope now becomes negatively charged as well.

Figure 1: Charging a Neutral Body by Conduction

https://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/estatics/Lesson-2/Charging-by-Cond
uction

Consider a positively charged aluminum plate brought in contact

with a neutral metal sphere as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2: Charging a Neutral Body by Conduction

https://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/estatics/Lesson-2/Charging-by-Cond
uction

1
Time allocation suggested by the teacher.
2
Actual time allocation spent by the student (for information purposes only).

Physics 2 Electrostatic Charges and Charge Transfer, Part 2 Page 1 of 6

 The positive protons on the aluminum plates attract the negative
electrons on the neutral metal sphere. Since the protons are tightly
bound in the nucleus, the electrons from the sphere will then
transfer to the plate upon contact. Since the sphere loses electrons,
it obtains a positive charge.

Note that in the first example, both the objects become negatively
charged after contact while in the second example, both objects
ended positively charged after their contact.

Charging by Induction

Unlike charging by conduction, this type of charging mechanism

does not require contact between the charged and the neutral object
to be charged. To understand charging by induction, we need to
understand first the concept of charge polarization.

Though the laws of electrostatics only states that like charges repel
and opposite charges attract, a neutral body can also be attracted to
a charged body. This was shown in the first electrostatic experiment
example where neutral bits of paper were attracted to a charged
comb. This kind of attraction is made possible because charges in a
body can be polarized.

Polarization is the process of separating the positive and negative

charges within an object. Figure 3 shows a neutral can of soda. By
placing a charged object near the can, the charges on the can are
polarized. In this case, the electrons in the can are repelled by the
negatively charged balloon. As the electrons move to the far-end of
the can this leaves the end nearer to the balloon positively charged.

Figure 3: Charge polarization within a conductor

Source: https://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/estatiscs/u8l1e.cfm

Polarization is also the reason why a charged balloon sticks to a

neutral wall as if there is a sticky tape placed between them. Shown
in Figure 4, the charges on the neutral wooden wall were polarized.
The molecules of the wall reorient themselves in a way that the
negative charges are repelled away from the negatively charged
balloon. With one side of the wall left positive, it then attracts the

Physics 2 Electrostatic Charges and Charge Transfer, Part 2 Page 2 of 6

 balloon. The charged balloon caused the molecules to be polarized
making the attraction between them possible.

Figure 4. A negatively charged balloon attracted to a neutral wooden wall.

https://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/estatiscs/u8l1e.cfm

Though a neutral object is attracted to a charged body through

polarization, you must take note that polarization is not a charging
mechanism. The number of protons and electrons in the neutral
body remains the same in this process. But as mentioned,
polarization is necessary for charging by induction to happen.

Let us consider again the can of soda. Two neutral soda cans are
mounted on Styrofoam cups and placed side by side as shown in
Figure 5a. A negatively charged balloon is placed near one soda
can. Even without contact, the negative charges on the two-can
system are repelled to the side farthest from the charged balloon.
The charges on the two-can system are now polarized (Figure 5b).
While keeping the charged balloon on its position, one can is
slowly moved away from the other (Figure 5c). The cans are now
charged.
(a) (b) (c)

Figure 5. Charging soda cans by induction.

https://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/estatics/Lesson-2/Charging-by-Indu
ction

Figure 6 shows the resulting charges of the two soda cans if the
negative charged balloon is replaced with a positive one.

Figure 6. Charging soda cans by induction.

Source:https://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/estatics/Lesson-2/Charging-
by-Induction (edited)

Physics 2 Electrostatic Charges and Charge Transfer, Part 2 Page 3 of 6

 As you will notice in both cases, the charge of the can (Can A) near
the charged balloon obtains a charge opposite to that of the balloon.
This is always the observed case when charging by induction is
used to charge a neutral object.

The two charging mechanisms discussed in this learning guide are

different from one another. Conduction needs contact between the
charged object and the neutral body while induction does not. In
conduction, a charged body either transfers or receives electrons
to/from a neutral object, while in induction, the charged body never
transfers or receives electrons to/from the neutral object. In the case
of the two-can system, can B serves as the receiver or supplier of
electrons to can A. Can A obtain its charge from its contact with
Can B and not from the charged balloon.

Grounding

Ground is a body that acts as a seemingly infinite receiver and/or

reservoir of electrons.

Figure 7 shows how a single soda can be charged through induction

and grounding. Once the charges on the can are polarized using a
charged balloon, the can is then briefly touched to allow the
electrons to move through the hand to the ground (Figure 11a).
After touching the can, the charged balloon is removed and what is
left is a positively charged can (Figure 11b)

Figure 7. Charging a soda can by induction.

Source:https://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/estatics/Lesson-2/Charging-
by-Induction (edited)

If instead a positively charged balloon is used to polarize the can,

Figure 8 shows how the can will become negatively charged.

Figure 8. Charging a soda can by induction.

Source:https://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/estatics/Lesson-2/Charging-
by-Induction (edited)

Physics 2 Electrostatic Charges and Charge Transfer, Part 2 Page 4 of 6

 Electrons from the ground are attracted to the positive side of the
can. The can now has an excess of negative charges having entered
from the ground thereby resulting in a negatively charged can.

To further understand both grounding and charging by induction,

you may click on the link and watch the video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JsVZwc1dOo.

Navigate
It’s now time to check your understanding. Follow your teacher's 10
instructions regarding the submission.

1. Identify whether the given diagram of a

particle is charged or uncharged. If
charged, indicate if it is charged
positively or negatively.

2. After some exhausting counting, a physics teacher determines

that a very small sample of an object contains 8.25749 x 1017
protons and 5.26 x 1012 electrons. Identify the charge of this
object.

3. You have two lightweight metal spheres, each hanging from

an insulating nylon thread. One of the spheres has a net
negative charge, while the other sphere has no net charge. (a)
If the spheres are close together but do not touch, will they (i)
attract each other, (ii) repel each other, or (iii) exert no force
on each other? (b) You now allow the two spheres to touch.
Once they have touched, will the two spheres (i) attract each
other, (ii) repel each other, or (iii) exert no force on each
other?

4. Complete the statement: A neutral metal sphere is touched

by a negatively charged metal rod. During the process,
electrons are transferred from the _______ to the ________
and the sphere acquires a ________ charge.

5. If a charged plastic rod will be used to give another body a

charge of the opposite sign without losing any of its own
charge, what charging mechanism must be done?

Physics 2 Electrostatic Charges and Charge Transfer, Part 2 Page 5 of 6

 Knot Electric charge is a fundamental quantity in electrostatics. There are
two kinds of charge, positive and negative. Charges of the same 3
sign repel each other; charges of opposite sign attract. Charge is
conserved which means the total charge in an isolated system is
constant. Charge is also quantized which means all objects will
either have a charge of zero or an integral multiple of e.

Conductors are materials that permit electric charge to move easily

within them. Insulators permit charge to move less readily. Most
metals are good conductors; most nonmetals are insulators.

Charging by friction, also called triboelectric charging, involves

rubbing between two materials. Triboelectric series is a list of
materials arranged according to the materials’ electron affinity.
Materials with high electron affinity tend to be negatively charged
after rubbing while those with lower electron affinity become
positively charged.

Charging by conduction, also called charging by contact, is a

charging mechanism where the charged object is placed in contact
with the neutral object. The charged object either supplies or
receives electrons to/from the neutral object. The neutral object
then acquires a charge similar to that of the charged body used to
charge it.

Charging by induction does not require contact between the

charged object and the neutral body to be charged. The charged
body never transfers or receives electrons, it causes the neutral
object’s charges to be polarized. Through grounding, the neutral
body either receives or gives off its electrons. The neutral object
will then have a charge opposite to that of the body used to charge
it.
References:
1. Young, H. D & Freedman, R. A. (2008). University Physics with Modern Physics (12th Ed).
Pearson.
2. https://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/estatics/Lesson-2/Charging-by-Conduction
3. https://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/estatiscs/u8l1e.cfm
4. https://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/estatics/Lesson-2/Charging-by-Induction
Prepared by: Hazel H. Abareta Reviewed by: Gineth Grace C. Calis

Position: SST IV Position: SST IV

Campus: CALABARZON RC Campus: CARC

Physics 2 Electrostatic Charges and Charge Transfer, Part 2 Page 6 of 6