Three pithballs are suspended from thin threads. Various objects are then rubbed

Question

Three pithballs are suspended from thin threads. Various objects are then rubbed against other objects (nylon against silk, glass against polyester, etc.) and each of the pithballs is charged by touching them with one of these objects. In one set of experiments, it is found that pithballs 1 and 2 repel each other and that pithballs 2 and 3 repel each other. From this we can conclude that one of the objects carries no charge. 1 and 3 carry charges of equal sign and opposite the sign of 2. 1 and 3 carry charges of opposite sign. all three carry the charges of the same sign. all charges are positive. The figure below shows the electric field lines for a system of two point charges. Point charge q_1 has a charge of 6 microCoulomb. What is the charge of point charge q_2? This cannot be determined. 2 microCoulomb -3 microCoulomb -1.5 microCoulomb -2 microCoulomb 1.5 microCoulomb 3 microCoulomb

Explanation / Answer

A)

1 and 2 repel each other so they must have same charge. Since 2 and 3 repel each other , pithball 3 will also have the same charge so answer is

All three carry the charges of same sign

B)

The number of lines around q1 = 16

The number of lines around q2 = 4

So

q2/q1 = n2/n1

q2/6 x 10-6 = 4 / 16

q2 = 1.5 x 10-6 C

Since the lines are repelling each other, q2 must also be positive

So q2 = 1.5 micro Columb

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