Question

A charged body ______ (attracts, repels) an uncharged body towards it.

Answer 1

Two bodies having the same charges repel each other. When two bodies have different charges on them, they attract each other. When a charged body is placed near an uncharged body, the charged body induces opposite charge on the uncharged body.

Complete step by step answer: We know that like charges repel each other so as they are at maximum possible distance. On the other hand unlike or opposite charges attract each other and thus the bodies experience some force of attraction.

In the given case, a charged body is placed near some uncharged body. An uncharged body means that the body has equal magnitude of positive as well as negative charge on it. So as soon as some charged body is placed near it, the charged body induces negative charges on the uncharged body. These opposite charges try to accumulate on the surface of the body so as it gets closer to the charged body.

Now, as the two bodies have opposite charges on them, they attract each other.

Therefore, the correct option is attracts.

Note: Uncharged body means that the body has net charge of zero. In simpler terms, there is an equal magnitude of positive and negative charge. If the charged body has positive charge or negative charge on it, the answer will be the same as it will induce opposite charge only. The charged body here can have net positive as well as net negative charge. By induction it will result in the development of an opposite charge on the uncharged body. The positive and negative charge densities on the surface of the uncharged body move depending on the charge on the charge body.