A student is investigating the distribution of charges in insulators. The student will place an aluminum metal can on top of a foam cup and touch the side of the foam cup with a negatively charged rod. The set up for the investigation is shown in the diagram.
What will MOST LIKELY happen to the electrons when the rod touches the foam cup?
a
The electrons will pass to the foam cup but will remain in a localized, positively charged area on the cup where the rod was placed.
b
The electrons will pass from the foam cup to the aluminum can, and both the foam cup and the aluminum can will become positively charged.
c
The electrons will pass from the foam cup to the aluminum can, and both the foam cup and the aluminum can will become negatively charged.
d
The electrons will pass to the foam cup but will remain in a localized, negatively charged area on the cup where the rod was placed.