An object with a small amount of excess positive charge is placed near but not t

Question

An object with a small amount of excess positive charge is placed near but not touching an isolated conductor, which is (initially) electrically neutral. What happens?
a. positive charge is transferred from the object to the conductor
b. negative charge is transferred from the conductor to neutralize the object
c. the conductor remains electrically neutral overall but the negative charges in it go closer to the object and the positives go further away, and so the conductor is attracted to the object
d. the conductor develops and overall negative charge and is attracted to the object
e. none of the above occurs
*I'm hoping that you don't just answer this with the letter, but explain the basis for your reasoning

Explanation / Answer

Option (C) is correct.

the conductor remains electrically neutral overall but the negative charges in it go closer to the object and the positives go further away, and so the conductor is attracted to the object.

Whenever a charged body is brought near an uncharged body, the nearer face acquires the opposite charge and the opposite face acquires the same charge as that of the charged body. This is ELECTROSTATIC INDUCTION. OR the process of CHARGING BY INDUCTION.

No external charge is acquired by the body which is getting induced. Only the charge redistribution takes place and a charge imbalance is created. Once the charged body is moved farther, the charge redistributes again and the object is again electrically neutral.

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