Net Movement of Charges: Explained Creatively

What happens when a metal cube with a positive charge +2Q is brought into contact with a cylinder of a positive charge +Q? Final answer: Electrons move from the cylinder to the cube.

When a metal cube with a positive charge +2Q is brought into contact with a cylinder of a positive charge +Q, the net movement of charges will be from the cylinder to the cube. But why does this happen?

In solids, such as metals, positive charges (protons) are not mobile. It is the electrons that can move within the material. When the two positively charged objects are in contact, electrons will move to equalize the charge distribution. In this case, electrons move from the cylinder to the cube to neutralize some of the charge.

This movement of electrons helps to balance out the charges between the two objects. Electrons flow from the object with a lower positive charge (cube) to the object with a higher positive charge (cylinder). This equalizes the charges and achieves a stable state.

Therefore, the correct answer to the question is: Electrons move from the cylinder to the cube. It is a natural tendency for electrons to flow towards areas with a higher positive charge to balance out the charges.

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