electrostatic induction

Elect.

the electrification of a conductor when placed near a charged body.

[1875-80]

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Modification in the distribution of electric charge on one material under the influence of an electric charge on a nearby object.

It occurs whenever any object is placed in an electric field. When a negatively charged object is brought near a neutral object, it induces a positive charge on the near side of the object and a negative charge on the far side. If the negative side of the original object is momentarily grounded, the negative charge may escape, so that the object becomes positively charged by induction.

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▪ physics

      modification in the distribution of electric charge on one material under the influence of nearby objects that have electric charge. Thus, because of the electric force between charged particles that constitute materials, a negatively charged object brought near an electrically neutral object induces a positive charge on the near side and a negative charge on the far side of the neutral object. The neutral object, furthermore, may sometimes become charged positively by induction, if its negative part is grounded momentarily to permit the negative charge to escape. Electrostatic induction occurs whenever any object is placed in an electric field. See also electric polarization.

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