Which process imparts electric charge to an object at a distance without direct contact between the objects?

Which process imparts electric charge to an object at a distance without direct contact between the objects?

• A. Friction
• B. Conduction
• C. Contact
• D. Induction

Answer: (D)

Charging by induction is when a charged object influences another object without touching it, causing the distribution of charges inside the second object to shift. The electric field from the nearby charge pushes or pulls free electrons in a conductor, creating a negative region on one side and a positive region on the other. If the object is connected to the ground while the external charge is near, electrons can flow to or from the Earth, and when the ground is removed and the external charge is taken away, the object ends up with a net charge. This all happens without any direct contact between the objects. The other methods—friction, conduction, and touching—require physical contact or rubbing, so they don’t fit the scenario described.

Charging by induction is when a charged object influences another object without touching it, causing the distribution of charges inside the second object to shift. The electric field from the nearby charge pushes or pulls free electrons in a conductor, creating a negative region on one side and a positive region on the other. If the object is connected to the ground while the external charge is near, electrons can flow to or from the Earth, and when the ground is removed and the external charge is taken away, the object ends up with a net charge. This all happens without any direct contact between the objects. The other methods—friction, conduction, and touching—require physical contact or rubbing, so they don’t fit the scenario described.