Pop Can and Charged Rod

PIRA: 5A40.20

A positively or negatively charged rod is shown to attract a neutral pop can.  The rod is charged by rubbing it on various materials such as rabbit fur, silk, or plastic wrap. The electric field produced by the rod polarizes the can, repelling charges of one sign and attracting charges of the other.  The inverse square term in Coulomb's Law results in a dominating attractive force between the rod and the charges in the can nearest to the rod.