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Physics question!?

Two 3.4 g point charges on 1.0-m-long threads repel each other after being equally charged, as shown in the figure.(Figure 1) Assume that θ = 26 ∘.

What is the charge q?

Attachment image

1 Answer

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  • NCS
    Lv 7
    3 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    for each thread, vertical force

    Fy = 0.0034kg * 9.8m/s² = 0.03332 N

    so the horizontal component is such that

    tanΘ = Fx / Fy, or

    Fx = Fy * tanΘ = 0.03332N * tan26º = 0.01625 N

    the inter-charge distance

    d = 2LsinΘ = 2 * 1m * sin26º = 0.877 m

    electrostatic force

    F = kq² / d²

    so

    q² = Fd² / k = 0.01625N * * (0.877m)² / 8.99e9N·m²/C² = 1.39e-12 C²

    so

    q = 1.2e-6 C = 1.2 µC

    either both negative or both positive

    to two significant digits

    Hope this helps!

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