(Figure 1) Consider three plastic balls (A, B, and C), each carrying a uniformly distributed charge equal to either +Q, -Q or zero, and an uncharged copper ball (D). A positive test charge (T) experiences the forces shown in the figure when Learning Goal: brought very near to the individual balls. The test charge T is strongly attracted to A, strongly repelled from B, weakly attracted to C, and strongly attracted to D. To understand the electric force between charged and Assume throughout this problem that the balls are brought very close together. uncharged conductors and insulators. When a test charge is brought near a charged object, we know from Coulomb's law that it will experience a net Part A force (either attractive or repulsive, depending on the nature of the ject's charge). A test charge may also experience an electric force when brought near a neutral object. Any attraction of a neutral insulator or neutral What is the nature of the force between balls A and B? conductor to a test charge must occur through induced View Available Hint(s) polarization. In an insulator, the electrons are bound to their molecules. Though they cannot move freely throughout the insulator, they can shift slightly, creating a attractive rather weak net attraction to a test charge that is brought close to the insulator's surface. In a conductor, free repulsive electrons will accumulate on the surface of the conductor nearest the positive test charge. This will create a strong neither attractive nor repulsive attractive force if the test charge is placed very close to the conductor's surface. Submit Part B Complete previous part(s) Part C Complete previous part(s) Part D Complete previous part(s) Provide Feedback Next > Figure