A positively charged ebonite rod is brought close to a small ball. The rod does not touch the ball, which is made from a conducting material. The ball is electrically neutral. Which one of the following statements is true?
a. The rod neither attracts nor repels the ball.
b. The rod repels the ball.
c. As the rod is brought closer to the ball, the force changes from an attractive force to a repulsive force.
d. The rod attracts the ball