Charging by Induction

Any non-conducting object in this world that has an equal amount of positive and negative charge can be charged by bringing another negatively charged object in its vicinity. This process of creating charged objects is known as charging by induction. As we bring the negative charge close to the given body, the positive charge will get attracted towards it and the negative charge will get repelled. The negative charge will appear on the farther side of the body. Then we connect a ground to the other side of the body and the negative charges will be drained through ground. Now the body contains the positive charges.For the charge to remain in the body the ground must be removed before the removal of the negatively charged body. This leads to the formation of the charged objects without any transfer of charges or contact with any externally charged entity.

This induction method is the fundamental way of charging a conducting body. In this method, conducting bodies can be charged without touching them. In order to understand charging by induction, we will require knowledge of conductor nature and polarisation. We will, therefore, now go over the process of charging by induction in detail.

Charging by Induction 

It is defined as a method of charging conducting bodies without touching two conducting bodies. This method involves charging a neutral object with the help of a charged object but without touching the object. When a charged particle is brought near a neutral conductor, charge starts to flow between the two objects.Then we connect a ground to the other side of the body and the negative charges will be drained through ground. Now the body contains the positive charges.For the charge to remain in the body the ground must be removed before the removal of the negatively charged body An uncharged faradic material develops a charge with the opposite polarity like the charged object.

Charging by Conduction

Charging by conduction is opposite to that of charging by induction. In the charging by conduction process, the neutral body is charged by bringing the charged body in contact with the neutral body. For example, we have a body or object with a net charge zero on it. The conducting body has an equal number of positive and negative charges. The conducting body is then brought in contact with the neutral body in order to transfer charges.

Examples of Charging by Induction

Whenever a computer monitor or television screen is turned on, it collects static electric charges. When a particle of neutral dust approaches the screen, the charge on the screen induces the opposite charge in the near phase and the same charge on the screen in the far phase. As a result, dust is attracted to the screen.

Charging by Induction using +ve Charged Rod

For this induction experiment, we take two iron balls and place them in an environment properly insulated from the surroundings. Then, we allow the iron balls to contact each other. Further, we bring a metallic rod with +ve charge on it very close to the first sphere at this particular instant. Proper precautions should be taken to ensure that the rod and sphere are not in contact with each other. The -ve charge of the iron ball gets attracted towards +ve charged rod, leading to aggregation of these -ve charges on the left surface of the structure. Simultaneously, the +ve charges present in the iron ball get repelled by the +ve charged metallic road. They all aggregate on the right side of the structure. This is done to maintain the equilibrium condition of the charged ball structure. Now, we separate the two iron balls that were initially in contact with each other and we take the +ve charged metallic rod away from the two spheres. Now that the iron balls have become separate and insulated entities, the opposite charges (-ve and +ve) in the second sphere are distributed uniformly throughout. This will lead to the creation of two oppositely charged iron spheres in equilibrium conditions due to the induction process carried out by a +ve charged metallic rod. Both the iron balls possess an equal quantity of opposite charges uniformly distributed throughout. This was done without loss of any +ve or -ve charge.  

Conclusion

In this article, we have learnt about charging by induction. In this method, we are able to charge conducting bodies without having any contact with them. We have learnt about the various methods for charging objects such as  charging by conduction, and charging by induction. The charging by friction method includes neutral bodies when we rub them together. Charging by conduction is the process accomplished by touching a conducting body, and charging by induction is the process of charging a body without having any contact with the charged body rather than bringing the charged body to the vicinity of the neutral body.

We also learnt about the real-life examples of charging by induction and the steps involved in charging the object.