Why do charged objects attract neutral objects?

Why do charged objects attract neutral objects?

• A. charged objects induce charges in neutral objects
• B. neutral objects attract charged objects due to magnetism
• C. there is no attraction
• D. charged objects transfer charges to neutral objects

Answer: (A)

Charged objects attract neutral ones because the electric field from the charged object causes the charges inside the neutral object to rearrange. This rearrangement is called polarization: the electrons in the neutral object are drawn toward the charged object (if the charged object is positive), giving the near side a negative charge and the far side a positive charge. Although the neutral object has no overall charge, this induced dipole interacts with the field from the charged object to produce a net attractive force. This attraction can occur without any transfer of charge between the objects. (Charge transfer would require contact or another pathway for moving charges.)

Charged objects attract neutral ones because the electric field from the charged object causes the charges inside the neutral object to rearrange. This rearrangement is called polarization: the electrons in the neutral object are drawn toward the charged object (if the charged object is positive), giving the near side a negative charge and the far side a positive charge. Although the neutral object has no overall charge, this induced dipole interacts with the field from the charged object to produce a net attractive force. This attraction can occur without any transfer of charge between the objects. (Charge transfer would require contact or another pathway for moving charges.)