Two 500 g spheres with equal positive charges are suspended by 10.0 cm long stri

Question

Two 500 g spheres with equal positive charges are suspended by 10.0 cm long
strings in a uniform electric field E = 2.00 x 106 N/C as shown.

a) If the charged spheres are in equilibrium when their strings make angles of
20.0. with the vertical, determine the charge on the spheres. [10 points]

b) Determine the tension in the strings. [8 points]

c) What would be the effect of reversing the direction of the electric field on
the equilibrium position of the two spheres if they had equal negative
charges? [2 points]

Explanation / Answer

Charged spheres will be in equilibruim when Force on them ==0 ==> Electric field = 2x10^6 east ==>mg south T = E + mg(vector addition) Distance between spheres = 2*0.1sin10 Tcos10 = mg and Tsin10 = Eq Eq =mgtan10==> a.q = 0.5*9.8tan10/2x10-6 = 0.432 mu C b.T = mg/cos10 = 0.5*9.8/cos10 = 4.97N c.The charges attract eachother Hence they collide at the bottom.

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