In the circuit represented by the figure below the bulb B has a higher resistanc

Question

In the circuit represented by the figure below the bulb B has a higher resistance than the two outside bulbs. The object shown below which has two blocks of plastic (the one on the left with a large and the one on the right with an equally large positive charge) connected by a block of wood is going to be placed instantaneously in the gap at the top of the circuit above. This object will not touch the write on either side of the gap. Would the charges in the segment of the wire to the right of the gap experience any electric force when the block is in place? If yes, what would the directed of the force be? If no, why not?

Explanation / Answer

As the plastic blocks are insulators the charges they carry cannot move about.
Assuming there is a uniform charges density over the surface of the blocks ..

1) that puts a small proportion the +charge at the edge of the right block close to the wire.
Expect electrons in the wire here to experience some force towards the +charge on this block .. until they accumulate a balancing amount of -charge at the end of the wire.

2 & 3 ) Electrons in the wire next to the -block will experience a repelling force .. so there is a momentary initial movement of electrons throughout the length of the wire.

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