What phenomenon occurs when an external electric field causes a redistribution of charge?

The phenomenon that occurs when an external electric field causes a redistribution of charge is accurately described as induced charge separation. When an external electric field is applied to a neutral conductor, the field influences the distribution of positive and negative charges within the conductor. Positive charges will be attracted toward the area of the conductor that is closer to the source of the electric field, while negative charges will be repelled to the opposite side. This results in a separation of charge within the conductor, creating regions of positive and negative charge without any overall loss of charge.

Induced charge separation is a fundamental concept in electromagnetism and underlies many practical applications, such as how capacitors function and how charges interact in electromagnetic fields. The other choices, while related to the concept of charge and electric fields, do not specifically capture the process of charge redistribution in the context of an external electric field acting on a neutral object.