Can a conductor be polarized

Yes, a conductor can be polarized, but the process is different from that in insulators. In a conductor, when an external electric field is applied, free charge carriers (like electrons) move, causing a redistribution of charge within the conductor. This results in induced surface charges, creating an electric dipole moment, but the overall charge remains neutral. However, polarization in conductors is transient and disappears once the external field is removed.