<p>As a research physicist, you have been called in to provide technical assista

Question

<p>As a research physicist, you have been called in to provide technical assistance to a science fiction film crew. The film plot centers on the investigation of a mysterious object found near a UFO crash site. The object is spherical and roughly 17.3 cm in diameter.<br />According to the script, when scientists place a test instrument near the object,it registers an electirc field of magnitude 5.130 x 10⁵&#160;N/C at a distance of 39.5 cm from its surface. Furthermore, they claim that the electirc field strength is fairly constant at this distance from the surface. In the script, the scientists claim that such a charge is so enormous that the object must be extraterrestial!</p>
<p>Calculate the charge on the object according to the specifications listed in the script. (Enter only a positive value.)</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Choose one of the following suggestions you would offer the script writers.</p>
<p>1. the charge on the object is not unusual. You need a much larger E-field written in the script.</p>
<p>2. The charge on the object is not unusual. You need a much smaller E-field written in the script.</p>
<p>3. The charge on the object is truly fantastic, lending credence to the notion that the object is extraterrestial.</p>

Explanation / Answer

A coulomb is really big, so a field of 5E+05 N/C sounds huge, but it isn't really. You need a coulomb to feel that 5E+05N force, and most charges are micro, pico, or nano coulombs. E = (1/4Pi eo) Q/r^2 Q = E(r^2)(1/9.0E+09Nm^2/C^2) = 5.130E+5N/C*(.173m+.395m)^2/(9.0E+9Nm^2/C^2) Q = 1.84E-05 C So we would want to increase the exponent on the field. ANSWER The charge is not unusual. You need a much larger E-field written into the script ANSWER

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