Chapter 15 - Electric Charge, Forces, and Fields - Learning Path Questions and Exercises - Conceptual Questions - Page 555: 11

A small charged object is placed and held just above the positive end of an electric dipole. The dipole starts to accelerate downward when released. a). The dipole accelerates is opposite direction which means it is repelling the positive end of the dipole more than attracting the negative end of the dipole which indicates the object is positively charged. Like charges repel and unlike charges attract. b). If the object is held near the negative end of the dipole, it will attract the negative end of the dipole and repel the positive end of the dipole because the object is positively charged.

A small charged object is placed and held just above the positive end of an electric dipole. The dipole starts to accelerate downward when released. a). The dipole accelerates is opposite direction which means it is repelling the positive end of the dipole more than attracting the negative end of the dipole which indicates the object is positively charged. Like charges repel and unlike charges attract. b). If the object is held near the negative end of the dipole, it will attract the negative end of the dipole and repel the positive end of the dipole because the object is positively charged.