The electric force between two charged particles becomes  weaker with increasing distance. Suppose instead that the electric  force were independent of distance. In this case, would a charged  comb still cause a neutral insulator to become polarized as in  Fig. 21.8? Why or why not? Would the neutral insulator still be  attracted to the comb? Again, why or why not?

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The electric force between two charged particles becomes 
weaker with increasing distance. Suppose instead that the electric 
force were independent of distance. In this case, would a charged 
comb still cause a neutral insulator to become polarized as in 
Fig. 21.8? Why or why not? Would the neutral insulator still be 
attracted to the comb? Again, why or why not?

21.8 The charges within the molecules of an insulating material can shift slightly. As a result, a comb with either
sign of charge attracts a neutral insulator. By Newton's third law the neutral insulator exerts an equal-magnitude
attractive force on the comb.
(a) A charged comb picking up uncharged
pieces of plastic
(b) How a negatively charged comb attracts an
insulator
(c) How a positively charged comb attracts an
insulator
Electrons in cach
molecule of the neutral
This time, electrons in
insulator shift away
from the comb.
the molecules shift
toward the comb .
*Negatively
charged comb
Positively
charged comb
. so the
(-) charges in each
As a result, the
(+) charges in each
molecule are closer to
molecule are closer to
the comb than are the (-)
the comb, and feel a
stronger force from it, than
the (+) charges. Again, the net
charges and so feel a stronger
force from the comb. Therefore
force is attractive.
the net forse is altractive
Transcribed Image Text:21.8 The charges within the molecules of an insulating material can shift slightly. As a result, a comb with either sign of charge attracts a neutral insulator. By Newton's third law the neutral insulator exerts an equal-magnitude attractive force on the comb. (a) A charged comb picking up uncharged pieces of plastic (b) How a negatively charged comb attracts an insulator (c) How a positively charged comb attracts an insulator Electrons in cach molecule of the neutral This time, electrons in insulator shift away from the comb. the molecules shift toward the comb . *Negatively charged comb Positively charged comb . so the (-) charges in each As a result, the (+) charges in each molecule are closer to molecule are closer to the comb than are the (-) the comb, and feel a stronger force from it, than the (+) charges. Again, the net charges and so feel a stronger force from the comb. Therefore force is attractive. the net forse is altractive
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