What term describes an object with an equal number of positive and negative charges?

What term describes an object with an equal number of positive and negative charges?

• A. Positive
• B. Charged
• C. Isolated
• D. Neutral

Answer: (D)

The main idea is that the net electric charge of an object is the sum of all its charges. When the number of positive charges (protons) exactly balances the number of negative charges (electrons), these charges cancel out and the total charge is zero. That state is called neutral. So, neutral describes an object with zero net charge, meaning it isn’t carrying an overall positive or negative charge. A term like “positive” would mean more positive than negative charges, creating a positive net charge. “Charged” refers to any object that has a nonzero net charge, whether positive or negative, and doesn’t specify neutrality. “Isolated” doesn’t address charge at all; it describes being separated from others.

The main idea is that the net electric charge of an object is the sum of all its charges. When the number of positive charges (protons) exactly balances the number of negative charges (electrons), these charges cancel out and the total charge is zero. That state is called neutral.

So, neutral describes an object with zero net charge, meaning it isn’t carrying an overall positive or negative charge. A term like “positive” would mean more positive than negative charges, creating a positive net charge. “Charged” refers to any object that has a nonzero net charge, whether positive or negative, and doesn’t specify neutrality. “Isolated” doesn’t address charge at all; it describes being separated from others.