### Correct Option: D ### Detailed Explanation: When a negatively charged rod is brought near a neutral conductor without touching it, an interesting phenomenon occurs due to the principles of electrostatics, specifically **induction**. 1. **Understanding Charge Distribution**: - A neutral conductor has an equal number of positive and negative charges (electrons). When a negatively charged object (the rod) is brought close to the conductor, the electric field created by the rod influences the charges within the conductor. 2. **Induction Process**: - The negatively charged rod repels the electrons in the conductor because like charges repel each other. As a result, the electrons in the conductor will move away from the side of the conductor that is closest to the rod. - This movement of electrons causes the side of the conductor nearest to the rod to become positively charged (due to a deficiency of electrons), while the side farthest from the rod accumulates excess electrons, becoming negatively charged. 3. **Charge Separation**: - This separation of charge creates a dipole within the conductor: the side closest to the rod is positively charged, and the side farthest away is negatively charged. However, the overall charge of the conductor remains neutral because no electrons have been added or removed from the conductor; they have merely been redistributed. 4. **Conclusion**: - Therefore, the correct answer is **D**: The conductor develops a positive charge on the side nearest the rod and a negative charge on the opposite side. This is a classic example of electrostatic induction. ### Why Other Options Are Incorrect: - **Option A: The conductor becomes positively charged throughout.** - This option is incorrect because while the side of the conductor nearest to the rod becomes positively charged, the opposite side becomes negatively charged. The conductor does not become uniformly positively charged. - **Option B: The conductor remains neutral with no charge distribution.** - This option is incorrect because the presence of the negatively charged rod induces a charge distribution within the conductor. The charges do not remain uniformly distributed; they separate due to the influence of the electric field from the rod. - **Option C: The conductor becomes negatively charged throughout.** - This option is incorrect because the conductor does not gain excess electrons overall. Instead, the electrons redistribute, leading to a positive charge on one side and a negative charge on the other side, maintaining the conductor's overall neutrality. ### Key Formulas and Concepts: - **Coulomb's Law**: Describes the force between two charges. - **Electric Field (E)**: The field around a charged object that exerts a force on other charges. The direction of the electric field points away from positive charges and towards negative charges. - **Induction**: The process by which a charged object can induce a charge separation in a neutral conductor without direct contact. ### Common Pitfalls: - Confusing charge induction with charge transfer. Induction does not involve the transfer of charge; it only involves the redistribution of existing charges. - Misunderstanding that the conductor remains neutral overall despite the separation of charges. ### Revision Summary: - A negatively charged rod induces charge separation in a neutral conductor. - The side of the conductor nearest to the rod becomes positively charged, while the opposite side becomes negatively charged. - The overall charge of the conductor remains neutral due to the conservation of charge. - This phenomenon is a key example of electrostatic induction.