Question

A small metal ball is given a negative charge, then brought near to end a of the rod (figure 1). What happens to end a of the rod when the ball approaches it closely this first time?.

Answer 1

What happens to end a of the rod when the ball approaches it closely this first time is; It is strongly attracted.

Electrostatics

I have attached the image of the rod.

We are told that the ball is much closer to the end of the rod than the length of the rod. Thus, if we point down the rod several times, the distance of approach will experience no electric field and as such the charge on end point A of the rod must be comparable in magnitude to the charge on the ball.

This means that their fields will cancel.

Finally, we can conclude that when a charge is brought close to a conductor, the opposite charges will all navigate to the point that is closest to the charge and as a result, a strong attraction will be created.

This also applies to a strong conducting rod and therefore it is strongly attracted.

Read more about Electrostatics at; brainly.com/question/18108470