Question

the net electric force acting on each of the three objects below is sketched as a green arrow. for example, if the object feels a net electric force pushing it to the left. if there is no green arrow, the object feels no net electric force. use this information to assign an electric charge to each object. that is, decide whether each object has a positive electric charge, or is neutral. note for advanced students: there may be more than one correct answer.

Explanation:

Step1: Recall electric - force rules

Like charges repel and opposite charges attract. A neutral object experiences no net electric force in the presence of charged objects (except for very weak polarization - related forces which we ignore here).

Step2: Analyze the left - most object

Since there is no green arrow on the left - most object, it experiences no net electric force. So it is neutral.

Step3: Analyze the middle and right - most objects

The green arrows between the middle and right - most objects point towards each other, indicating an attractive force. So one is positive and the other is negative.

Answer:

Left - most object: neutral; Middle object: positive or negative; Right - most object: negative or positive (opposite of the middle object's charge)