Here's an explanation of what happens:
1. Polarisation: When a charged object (let's say, positively charged) is brought near a neutral object, it creates a non-uniform electric field in the vicinity. The electric field exerts a force on the neutral object's constituent particles, causing them to shift positions and become separated.
2. Separation of Charges: The positive charges in the neutral object are repelled by the positive charge of the nearby object and move away, while the negative charges are attracted and accumulate closer to the charged object. This separation of charges creates an induced dipole moment within the neutral object.
3. Attraction: The induced dipole moment is essentially a temporary separation of charges, resulting in a net positive charge on one side of the neutral object facing the charged object and a net negative charge on the opposite side. The opposite charges of the induced dipole are attracted to the charged object, causing the neutral object to be pulled towards it.
4. Neutralisation: If the charged object is removed, the separated charges within the neutral object will redistribute themselves, returning the object to its original neutral state.
In summary, a neutral object becomes attracted to a charged object due to electrostatic induction, where the electric field of the charged object causes a separation of charges within the neutral object, creating an induced dipole moment and an attractive force.
