When two charged objects touch, what typically happens?

When two charged objects come into contact, charge transfer occurs between them until they reach the same electric potential. This is due to the movement of electrons, which are the charge carriers. When one object has a surplus of electrons (negative charge) and the other has a deficiency (positive charge), electrons will move from the negatively charged object to the positively charged one. This transfer continues until both objects achieve a balance in their charge, essentially neutralizing the difference between them. This principle is fundamental in electrostatics and illustrates how objects can influence each other in terms of charge through direct contact.

The other choices suggest outcomes that do not accurately reflect the principles of electrostatics. Immediate discharge may occur in some cases, but not all situations result in immediate discharge or permanent loss of charge; rather, the charge is redistributed. The notion that the objects remain unchanged contradicts this fundamental principle of charge interaction.