Question

In a charging process, 4 × 1013 electrons are removed from one small metal sphere and placed on a second identical sphere. Initially, both metal spheres were neutral. After the charging process, the electrical potential energy associated with the two spheres is found to be −0.063 J. What is the distance between the two spheres?

Answer 1

Answer:

The distance between the two spheres is 914.41 X 10³ m

Explanation:

Given;

4 X 10¹³ electrons, and its equivalent in coulomb's is calculated as follows;

1 e = 1.602 X 10⁻¹⁹ C

4 X 10¹³ e = 4 X 10¹³ X 1.602 X 10⁻¹⁹ C = 6.408 X 10⁻⁶ C

V = Ed

where;

V is the electrical potential energy between two spheres, J

E is the electric field potential between the two spheres N/C

d is the distance between two charged bodies, m

$V = \frac{K*q}{d^2}*d = \frac{K*q}{d}$

$d = \frac{K*q}{V}$

where;

K is coulomb's constant = 8.99 X 10⁹ Nm²/C²

d = (8.99 X 10⁹ X 6.408 X 10⁻⁶)/0.063

d = 914.41 X 10³ m

Therefore, the distance between the two spheres is 914.41 X 10³ m