JAMB - Physics (2025 - No. 90)

B. Increases

When a positively charged rod is brought near the cap of a positively charged gold-leaf electroscope (as indicated by the diverging leaves with + signs in the diagram), electrostatic induction occurs. The rod attracts negative charges toward the cap and repels additional positive charges toward the leaves. This increases the positive charge on the leaves, enhancing their mutual repulsion and thus increasing the divergence.