Try Again Your answer is incorrect. The net electric force acting on each of the three objects below is sketched as a green arrow. For example, if the green arrow points to the left the object feels net electric force pushing it to the left. If there is no green arrow, the object feels no net electric force. Use this information to assign an electric charge to each object. That is, decide whether each object has a positive electric charge, a negative electric charge, is neutral. Note for advanced students: there may be more than one correct answer.

In the realm of electrostatics, like charges repel while opposite charges attract. If an object feels a net electric force pointing to the left, it suggests that there’s a stronger attractive force acting on it from a positively charged object on the left side (or a stronger repulsion from a negatively charged object on the right). Conversely, if the force is directed to the right, it indicates a similar setup in reverse. This helps us deduce that an object feeling a net force towards another must be opposite in charge. Now, taking into consideration common pitfalls when dealing with forces: be cautious about assuming that a lack of visible arrows means neutrality—it's possible that two equally charged objects might be exerting forces on each other but cancel out. Always analyze the direction of the force arrows carefully to avoid jumping to conclusions!