Question

A 0.10 g honeybee acquires a charge of +23 pC while flying.

Answer 1

Answer:

a) $\frac{F}{w} =2.347\times 10^{-6}\ N$

b) $E=4.2609\times 10^7\ N.C^{-1}$ parallel to the earth surface.

• In this case according to the Fleming's left hand rule the direction of movement of bee must be in a direction parallel to the earth surface and perpendicular to the electric field at the same time.

Explanation:

Given:

mass of the bee, $m=10^{-4}\ kg$

charge acquired by the bee, $q_2=23\times 10^{-12}\ C$

a.

Electrical field near the earth surface, $E=100\ N.C^{-1}$

Now the electric force on the bee:

we know:

$F=\frac{1}{4\pi.\epsilon_0} \times \frac{q_1.q_2}{r^2}$

$F=E.q_2$

$F=100\times 23\times 10^{-12}$

$F=23\times 10^{-10}\ N$

The weight of the bee:

$w=m.g$

$w=10^{-4}\times 9.8$

$w=9.8\times10^{-4}\ N$

Therefore the ratio :

$\frac{F}{w} =\frac{23\times 10^{-10}}{9.8\times10^{-4}}$

$\frac{F}{w} =2.347\times 10^{-6}\ N$

b.

The condition for the bee to hang is its weight must get balanced by the electric force acing equally in the opposite direction.

So,

$F=9.8\times10^{-4}\ N$

$E.q_2=9.8\times10^{-4}\ N$

$E\times 23\times 10^{-12}=9.8\times10^{-4}\ N$

$E=4.2609\times 10^7\ N.C^{-1}$ parallel to the earth surface.

• In this case according to the Fleming's left hand rule the direction of movement of bee must be in a direction parallel to the earth surface and perpendicular to the electric field at the same time.