Charging a Two-Sphere System by Induction Using a Negative Object

There are a variety of methods to charge an object. One method is known as induction. In the induction process, a charged object is brought near but not touched to a neutral conducting object. The presence of a charged object near a neutral conductor will force (or induce) electrons within the conductor to move. The movement of electrons leaves an imbalance of charge on opposite sides of the neutral conductor. While the overall object is neutral (i.e., has the same number of electrons as protons), there is an excess of positive charge on one side of the object and an excess of negative charge on the opposite side of the object. Once the charge has been separated within the object, a ground is brought near and touched to one of the sides. The touching of the ground to the object permits a flow of electrons between the object and the ground. The flow of electrons results in a permanent charge being left upon the object. When an object is charged by induction, the charge received by the object is opposite the charge of the object which was used to charge it.

The animation below depicts the induction process. Two neutral conducting spheres rest on top of insulating stands. A negatively charged balloon is brought near to (without touching) the left sphere. The presence of the negatively charged balloon forces electron movement from the left sphere to the right sphere. This movement of electrons is merely a reaction to the presence of the negatively charged balloon (like charges repel). The result of the rightward movement of electrons through the spheres is that the spheres have become polarized. There is excess positive charge on the left sphere and excess negative charge on the right sphere. When the spheres are separated and the balloon is removed, the two spheres display a charge. The left sphere ends up with a positive charge (the opposite type of charge as the balloon). The right sphere ends up with a negative charge.

During the induction process, there is never any movement of electrons from the charged object to the spheres. The charged object is only used to induce electron movement. Electrons, being negatively charged, move about the conducting sphere as they are repelled by the negatively charged tube. These electrons move into the sphere on the right which serves as a type of "ground" during the induction process. Since there was a loss of negative charge in the form of electrons from the left sphere, the overall charge on the left sphere is positive. On the other hand, the right sphere having gained the electrons has an overall negative charge. When the balloon is removed, the excess charge on the two spheres becomes uniformly distributed.

The induction process is characterized by the following general features:

• A charged object is needed to charge an object by induction. Yet there is never any contact made between the charged object and the object being charged.
• Only conductors can be charged by the induction process. The process relies on the fact that a charged object can force or induce the movement of electrons about the material being charged.
• The object being charged ends up with a charge which is the opposite of the object being used to charge it.
• A ground must be used to charge the object. The ground allows for electron movement into or out of the object being charged.

Additional information on physical descriptions of electrostatic phenomenon is available at The Physics Classroom Tutorial. Detailed information is available there on the following topics:

Neutral vs. Charged Objects

Charge Interactions

Conductors and Insulators

Polarization

Charging by Induction