Electrostatic Induction
Introduction
Electrostatic induction is a method to create or generate static electricity in a material by bringing an electrically charged object near it. This causes the electrical
charges to be redistributed in the material, resulting in one side having an excess of either positive (+) or negative (−) charges. In induction the charged body
does not lose any of it's charge while in the process where the uncharged body is attaining any charge.
Charging a Material through Induction
Electrostatic induction is the physical phenomenon in which a material can be charged without any actual contact with a charged body. On bringing two
substances close to each other, due to the induction property, some movement of charge carriers from one object to another.
Electrostatic Charging by Induction in a Conducting Material
The phenomenon of electrostatic charging by induction is most efficient when objects are conducting materials like metals. A conducting material often has an
equivalent number of positive and negative charges in the neutral state. On bringing an electrically charged object near this conductor, the object's charges start
attracting the opposite charges and repelling the like charges.
Example of Electrostatic Induction
Bring a plastic rod near a conducting metal plate. The plastic rod's negative charges start attracting the positive charges of the metal plate when it is brought
near it. Additionally, the negative charges repel the negative charges within the metal plate. It creates a relocation of electrical charges within the metallic plate.
The electrical charges will remain in the redistributed state as long as the charged rod is kept near the plate. However, with the removal of the electrically
charged rod, the metal plate loses its charge instantaneously. It is because of the thermal motion of the atoms that causes the charges to integrate again.
Principles
When the object is not grounded, then an electrically charged object will induce equal and opposite charges in that object.
An electrically charged object does not receive or transfer any electrons to the object going to get induced.
When the inducing object is near, and any part of the material is grounded, then a charge opposite in polarity will get attracted. On the contrary, the
object will consist of the charge that is opposite to the inducing charge.
Electrostatic Charging by Induction in a Non-Conducting Material
The process of induction in electrostatics is also beneficial in giving electric charge to certain non-conducting materials. It is produced by the polarization of
molecules of non-conducting materials. However, the movement of charges is quite controlled in non-conductors as compared to conducting materials. The free
movement of electrons in a conductor enables the flow of electricity in a metal. Unlike conductors, the electrons are inhibited within the atoms in non-
conductors. Due to this reason, the separation of charged particles does not work in the case of non-conducting materials. Polar molecules have one side
consisting of more positive ions compared to the other side. If the non-conductor consists of these molecules, then induction of electrostatics causes alignment
of positive charges on one side and negative charges on the opposite side of the molecule. An example of a water molecule can explain electrostatic induction in
non-conducting materials. The H₂O molecule has positive charges on one side and negative charges on another side. Hence, it is possible to observe the
induction of charge in a water stream when a charged plastic comb is close to it. By bringing an electrically charged object near to a neutral material, charges can
be produced in that material. It is an effective process of creating static electricity, especially with conducting materials. Temporarily grounding the conductor
does not allow the immediate loss of charges produced on removing the charged object.
Applications of Electromagnetic Induction
Electrostatic induction means redistribution of electrical charges in an object produced due to the influence of nearby charges. The most common
application of electromagnetic induction is in the Vande Graph generator and Wimshurst machine.
In an electric generator the coils are rotated in the static magnetic field due to which the magnetic field will change. There is a change in the reflux due
to which electromotive force is produced.
The second application of electromagnetic induction is graphic tablets.
Next, it is also used in induction cooling.
