Red blood cells can often be charged. Consider two red blood cells with the foll

Question

Red blood cells can often be charged. Consider two red blood cells with the following charges: -21.4 pC and +47.2 pC. The red blood cells are 1.72 cm apart. (1 pC = 1x10^-12 C.)

(a) What is the magnitude of the force on each red blood cell?

Are the red blood cells attracted or repulsed by each other?

(b) The red blood cells come into contact with each other and then are separated by 1.72 cm. What magnitude of force does each of the red blood cells now experience?

Are the red blood cells attracted or repulsed by each other?

Explanation / Answer

a.) F = kq1q2/r^2 = (9x10^9)(21.4 x 10^-12)(47.2x10^-12)/(0.0172)^2 = 3.073 x 10^-8 N

Red blood cells are attracted by each other since they are opposite charges.

b.) now charge on each red blood cell = (47.2-21.4)/2 pC = 12.9 pC

F = kq1q2/r^2 = (9x10^9)(12.9 x 10^-12)(12.9x10^-12)/(0.0172)^2 = 5.0625 x 10^-9 N

Red blood cells are repelled by each other since they are same charges.

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