Physics · Electric charges: conservation of charge, Coulomb's law forces between two point charges, forces between multiple charges, superposition principle and continuous charge distribution

A charged body is brought near a positively charged gold leaf electroscopes. The

A charged body is brought near a positively charged gold leaf electroscopes. The divergence of its leaves increases.What is the kind of charge on the body?

  • A. Positive
  • B. Negative
  • C. Neutral
  • D. Data insufficient

Step-by-step solution

The positively charged electroscope's leaves diverge due to repulsion of like charges. When a positively charged body is brought near, it repels more positive charge to the leaves via induction, increasing the net positive charge on the leaves, thus increasing divergence. A negative charge would attract positive charge to the cap, reducing leaf charge and divergence. Neutral has no effect.
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