Due to electrostatic induction, when a charged object gets closer to a neutral object, sides of the neutral object can get charged. Thus, a charged object can attract a neutral object. However, is there a way to determine how strong would that attraction be? Can all the free electrons of a neutral object can gather on a side? If so, how many Coulombs of charge can gather?
Let's say we have a charged plate with 2 Coulombs of negative charge on it and a neutral object 2 meters away from the charged plate. How can we find the electrostatic force on the neutral object due to the charged object? I think while the one side of the neutral object attracts the charged object, the other side repels so the net force wouldn't be so much if the neutral object distance between the one side to the other is not so great.
Moreover, what would be the effect of the charged plate on a handheld electronic device or human body? Would these devices or our body get affected differently than a normal neutral object?
Best Answer
Too many questions inside one question!!! And from your questions it's not even clear how much of the mathematics you will understand, no offence. So I won't be giving you any rigorous answer, I'll just point out where you might get answers.
Yes there is a way to determine these things. It's given by a combination of Electric Displacement Field, Polarization Densities and Electric Fields. But first of all you need to understand electric dipole moment, dielectric and permittivity and the difference between dielectrics and conductors.
Good Luck.