What can cause a charged object to lose its charge rapidly?

A charged object can lose its charge rapidly when it comes into contact with a neutral object due to the transfer of electrons between the two objects. When a charged object touches a neutral object, electrons can flow from the charged object to the neutral one (or vice versa, depending on the charges involved), thus neutralizing the charge on the originally charged object. This process is called conduction and is a common way for charged materials to discharge quickly.

In contrast, being placed in a vacuum typically prevents charge loss since there are no particles to facilitate the transfer of charge. Exposing a charged object to light doesn’t directly cause it to lose charge, although certain frequencies of light might provide energy to free electrons in some materials, but this is not a rapid charge loss mechanism. Heating an object can affect its electrical conductivity but doesn't inherently cause a rapid loss of charge; instead, it may lead to increased collisions of particles, which might help distribute charge more evenly if the material remains conductive after heating. Thus, contact with a neutral object is the most effective and immediate means of charge neutralization.