Answer the following questions by selecting the correct/most appropriate options.


Read the following text:
When a negatively charged rod is brought near an uncharged electroscope,
A. the electroscope leaves move further apart
B. both the electroscope leaves acquire similar charge
C. the negative charges pass on to the electroscope causing its leaves to move further apart
Of the above three statements:

Correct option is D

The correct answer is: (d) A is an observation while B and C are inferences
Observation vs. Inference:
An observation is a direct sensory perception of the world around us. It's a factual statement about what we see, hear, touch, etc.
An inference is an explanation or interpretation based on observations. It goes beyond the immediate observation and suggests a reason or mechanism behind it.
Analysis of the Statements:
A. The electroscope leaves move further apart: This is an observation. You can directly see the leaves repel each other.
B. Both the electroscope leaves acquire similar charge: This is an inference. While you can see the leaves repel, you cannot directly observe the type of charge they have acquired. It's a conclusion based on the observation and our knowledge of electrostatics.
C. The negative charges pass on to the electroscope causing its leaves to move further apart: This is also an inference. It explains why the leaves repel (due to similar charges) but is not a direct observation.
Therefore, statement A is an observation, while B and C are inferences based on that observation.