Problem 4: Two tractor-trailer trucks are driving side-by-side on interstate 40.

Question

Problem 4: Two tractor-trailer trucks are driving side-by-side on interstate 40. The one on the left hugs the right side of the lane, and the one on the right hugs the left side of the lane, so that the two are almost touching. A physics student driving behind witnesses the event, and realizes that the time is ripe for a daring experiment. With the alacitry of the Lone Ranger, he leaps from his car onto the back of one of the trucks, and climbs on the roof. The student has in his left pocket a 1.5 Volt Evereadys battery, and in his right pocket he carries two wires. The battery has a capacity of 565 mAh. He connects the negative terminal of the battery to one truck, and the positive terminal to the other, in order to charge the trucks. (a) If the distance between the trucks is 20 nm, estimate how much charge will be on each of the trucks when equilibrium is reached. (b) How closely the trucks would have to be for the experiment to completely drain the battery. (c) For a separation of 20 nm, what is the strength of the electric field in the gap between the trucks? Does it exceed the dielectric strength of dry air? What is the diameter of an air molecule, by the way?

Explanation / Answer

a) charge capacity = 565 mAh = 0.565 C

B) TRUCK MUST NEAR TO TERMINAL OF BATTERY about 10nm

c) Electric field strength. E = V/d = 1.5/20* 109

   = 75 MV/m

it exceeded dielectric strenth of air. 21 kv/cm

diameter of air molecule = 20/2 = 10 nm

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