During charging by induction, which component is grounded?

During charging by induction, which component is grounded?

• A. The charged object
• B. The neutral object
• C. The ground itself
• D. The surrounding air

Answer: (B)

Charging by induction works by the nearby charged object creating a rearrangement of charges in a neutral conductor. To make a net transfer of charge, that neutral conductor is connected to the earth, giving electrons a path to flow between the ground and the conductor. This flow allows the conductor to acquire a net charge after the earth connection is removed and the external charge is also removed. So the component that is grounded is the neutral object—the conductor near the charged object—because it is the part that exchanges charge with the Earth. The charged object isn’t connected to ground in this process, the Earth is just the reservoir for electrons, and the surrounding air isn’t a conducting path in the usual electrostatic sense.

Charging by induction works by the nearby charged object creating a rearrangement of charges in a neutral conductor. To make a net transfer of charge, that neutral conductor is connected to the earth, giving electrons a path to flow between the ground and the conductor. This flow allows the conductor to acquire a net charge after the earth connection is removed and the external charge is also removed. So the component that is grounded is the neutral object—the conductor near the charged object—because it is the part that exchanges charge with the Earth. The charged object isn’t connected to ground in this process, the Earth is just the reservoir for electrons, and the surrounding air isn’t a conducting path in the usual electrostatic sense.