19/08/2025
The second reason is polarization. Let’s say the ruler has a negative charge, while the terminal of the electroscope initially has both positive and negative charges. When the negatively charged ruler is brought near the electroscope, the negative charges in the electroscope are repelled away, causing the positive charges to move closer to the ruler. This results in a positive charge near the ruler and a negative charge further away in the electroscope. As the leaves of the electroscope acquire the same charge (negative), they repel each other and move apart. Remember, like charges repel each other.
