Question

the net electric force acting on each of the three objects below is sketched as a green arrow. for example, if the green arrow points to the left 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, a negative 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 (force is away from each other) and opposite charges attract (force is towards each other), and neutral objects do not experience electric forces from charged objects (except by induction in some complex cases which are not relevant here).

Step2: Analyze the left - most object

Since there is no green arrow on the left - most object, it feels 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, which means they have opposite charges. One can be positive and the other negative.

Answer:

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