Question

How can a charged electroscope be neutralized?

• A. Give an equal amount of the opposite charge to the electroscope.
• B. Touch the electroscope with a chargeless ebonite rod.
• C. Give an equal amount of the same charge to the electroscope.
• D. Connect the free end of the electroscope to a point buried under the ground through a conductor.

Answer 1

Answer: (A), (D)

Connect the free end of the electroscope to a point buried under the ground through a conductor.

Charged elecroscope can be neutralised by giving equal amount of opposite charge because same amount of like and unlike charges neutralises the electroscope. Similarly, if we connect it to a conductor connected to deep under ground, we are grounding and neutralising it.
Touching it with a chargeless ebonite rod makes the charges present on the electroscope to flow to the neutral rod. However, at a point of time, charge flow will stop and still some charge will be left in the electroscope.
Transferring an equal amount of same charge would increase the charge on electroscope.