Question
Question: Five balls numbered 1 to 5 are suspended using separate threads. Pairs (1, 2), (2, 4) and (4, 1) sho...
Five balls numbered 1 to 5 are suspended using separate threads. Pairs (1, 2), (2, 4) and (4, 1) show electrostatic attraction, while pair (2, 3) and (4, 5) show repulsion. Therefore ball 1 must be
A
Positively charged
B
Negatively charged
C
Neutral
D
Made of metal
Answer
Neutral
Explanation
Solution
Let us consider 1 ball has any type of charge. 1 and 2 must have different charges, 2 and 4 must have different charges i.e. 1 and 4 must have same charges but electrostatics attraction is also present in (1, 4) which is impossible.