Question

A gold leaf electroscope is given a positive charge so that its leaves diverge. How is the divergence of leaves affected, when an uncharged rod is brought near its disc ?

• A. divergence increases
• B. divergence decreases
• C. divergence remains same
• D. can't say

Answer 1

The correct option is B divergence decreases

When uncharged rod is touched on the disc of a positively charged gold leaf electroscope, the divergence between the gold leaves decreases as unlike charges attract each other. It is to be noted that a charged body can also attract an uncharged body, so repulsion is the sure test to determine whether the body is charged or not.
Therefore, when the uncharged rod is rolled on the disc of the positively charged gold leaf electroscope, the electrons from the electroscope are transferred to the rod and hence, the rod becomes negatively charged. Now the unlike charges attract each other and the divergence decreases.