Charging an insulated conducting sphere by Induction



  1. As the charged rod appoaches the sphere, the negative charges on the sphere are attracted toward the rod and the positive charges are repelled. Note that the sphere still has a net charge of zero. (It is neutral.)
  2. When the sphere is grounded by a wire, electrons move up from the earth and give the sphere a net negative charge.
  3. The grounding wire is removed first and then the charged rod is removed leaving the sphere with a net charge.

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