A positively charged ant is crawling through a plastic drinking straw with non-z

Question

A positively charged ant is crawling through a plastic drinking straw with non-zero charges on both ends. One end is located at x = 0 and the other is located at x = 10 cm. The ant experiences zero net electric force at x = 3.0 cm. (a) Can you say whether the ends are positively or negatively charged? (b) Which end has a charge with greater magnitude? (c) Find the ratio of the charge at the 0 cm end to the charge at the 10 cm end. Express your answer as a decimal number. Yes No The 0 cm end The 10 cm end

Explanation / Answer

A. No. You can say they both have the same polarity charge. If they were opposite polarities, one would attract and the other would repel; both forces in the same direction resulting in a net force. B. End at 10 cm has greater magnitude charge, being farther away than charge at 0 cm and yet able to null out its field. C. Because field intensity E = kq/r^2, and E1 = E2, q1/q2 = r1^2/r2^2. So the absolute ratio of charges is 3^2/7^2 = 0.183673.

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