Here's why:
* Electrostatic Induction: When a charged object is brought near the electroscope's ball (without touching it), it induces a separation of charges within the electroscope.
* If the charged object is positive, it repels positive charges in the electroscope, forcing them to move down to the leaves. This leaves the ball with a negative charge.
* If the charged object is negative, it attracts positive charges in the electroscope, leaving the ball with a positive charge.
* Repulsion and Divergence: Since the leaves of the electroscope are connected to the ball, they acquire the same charge (positive or negative). Like charges repel, causing the leaves to diverge.
In summary: The charged object doesn't need to touch the electroscope to induce a separation of charges, which leads to the leaves diverging. This process relies on the principle of electrostatic induction.
