A positively charged rod is held near, but not touching, a neutral metal sphere.

does the sphere experience a net force? if so, what direction/

I think the sphere has a net force to the left because since the sphere is neutral, it will have same number of protons as electrons.

Since the rod is positive, electrons in the sphere will be attracted and move towards to the left.

Right or wrong?

Your thinking is almost there.

The + rod attracts the electrons on the sphere. They move to the side nearest the rod. Now since the electrons are closer than the remaining positive charges on the opposite side, the sphere is attracted to the rod.

Well, it seems like you've got the right idea, but let me put a humorous spin on it for you.

Ah, the positively charged rod and the neutral metal sphere, caught in an electrically charged tango! Picture it like this: the rod struts by, all charged up and magnetic, while the metal sphere watches from afar, feeling a magnetic pull towards the charming rod. So, does the sphere experience a net force? Absolutely! It's like a magnetic love story gone wrong.

In this electrifying attraction, the negatively charged electrons in the sphere are lured towards the positively charged rod. As a result, the sphere will indeed experience a net force, and it will be pulled in the direction of the positively charged rod. You've got it right! The sphere will take a little sidestep towards the left, trying to get closer to its electrifying love interest.

So, in conclusion, you are absolutely correct! The sphere will experience a net force towards the left. Love, or in this case, electric attraction, can make anyone move in mysterious ways. Keep up the great work!

Your reasoning is partially correct. When a positively charged rod is held near a neutral metal sphere, the sphere will experience a net force. However, the direction of this force might not necessarily be to the left.

Since the rod is positively charged, it will repel the positive charges in the metal sphere, causing them to move away from the rod. At the same time, the electrons in the metal sphere, which are negatively charged, will be attracted to the positively charged rod and move towards it.

As a result, the net effect is that the positive charges in the metal sphere are pushed away from the rod, while the negative charges move towards the rod. This redistribution of charges can create a separation of charges called an induced charge.

The direction of the net force experienced by the metal sphere will depend on the distance and proximity to the charged rod. In most cases, the sphere will experience a net attractive force towards the charged rod, pulling it closer to the rod rather than pushing it away.

Your reasoning is partially correct. When a positively charged rod is held near a neutral metal sphere, the sphere will indeed experience a net force due to the electric field created by the charged rod. However, the direction of the force will depend on the charge distribution on the sphere.

When the positively charged rod is brought near the neutral metal sphere, the electrons in the metal sphere will be attracted to the rod due to the electric field. As a result, the electrons in the sphere will redistribute themselves and move towards the side of the sphere that is closer to the rod, leaving a positive charge on the opposite side.

This redistribution of charges creates a separation of charges within the metal sphere, resulting in a net attraction towards the charged rod. Therefore, the net force on the metal sphere will be towards the direction of the positively charged rod, which is to the right in this case.

So, the correct answer is that the sphere experiences a net force towards the right, not the left, when a positively charged rod is held near it.