Question

Use the information below to answer questions

Answer 1

Answer:

The charges are q₁  = 2 × 10⁻⁸ C and  q₂ = 3 × 10⁻⁸ C

Explanation:

Here is the complete question

Two identical tiny balls have charge q1 and q2. The repulsive force one exerts on the other when they are 20cm apart is 1.35 X 10-4 N. after the balls are touched together and then represented once again to 20cm, now the repulsive force is found to be 1.40 X 10-4 N. find the charges q1 and q2.

Solution

The force F = 1.35 × 10⁻⁴ N when the charges are separated a distance of r = 20 cm = 0.2 m is given by

F = kq₁q₂/r₁²

q₁q₂ = Fr₁²/k

q₁q₂ = 1.35 × 10⁻⁴ N × (0.2 m)²/9 × 10⁹ Nm²/C² = 0.054/9 × 10⁻¹³ C² = 0.006 × 10⁻¹³ C² = 6 × 10⁻¹⁶ C²

q₁q₂ = 6 × 10⁻¹⁶ C² (1)

When the charges are brought together, the charge is now q = (q₁ + q₂)/2

The new repulsive force F = 1.406 × 10⁻⁴ N  at a distance of r₂ = 20 cm = 0.2 m is then

F₂ = kq²/r₂²

q² = F₂r₂²/k = 1.406 × 10⁻⁴ N × (0.2 m)²/9 × 10⁹ Nm²/C² = 0.00625 × 10⁻¹³ C² = 6.25 × 10⁻¹⁶ C²

q² = 6.25 × 10⁻¹⁶ C²

q = √(6.25 × 10⁻¹⁶) C

q = 2.5 × 10⁻⁸ C

(q₁ + q₂)/2 =  2.5 × 10⁻⁸ C

(q₁ + q₂) = 2 × 2.5 × 10⁻⁸ C

q₁ + q₂ = 5 × 10⁻⁸ C (2)

q₁  = 5 × 10⁻⁸ C - q₂  (3)

Substituting equation (3) into (1), we have

(5 × 10⁻⁸ C - q₂)q₂ = 6 × 10⁻¹⁶ C²

Expanding the bracket, we have

(5 × 10⁻⁸ C)q₂ - q₂² = 6 × 10⁻¹⁶ C²

So, q₂² - (5 × 10⁻⁸ C)q₂ + 6 × 10⁻¹⁶ C² = 0

Using the quadratic formula to find q₂

$q_{2} = \frac{-(-5 X 10^{-8} )+/- \sqrt{(-5 X 10^{-8} )^{2} - 4X1X6 X 10^{-16} } }{2X1}\\ = \frac{5 X 10^{-8} )+/- \sqrt{25 X 10^{-16} - 24 X 10^{-16} } }{2}\\= \frac{5 X 10^{-8} )+/- \sqrt{1 X 10^{-16} } }{2}\\= \frac{5 X 10^{-8} )+/- 1 X 10^{-8} }{2}\\= \frac{5 X 10^{-8} + 1 X 10^{-8} }{2} or \frac{5 X 10^{-8} - 1 X 10^{-8} }{2}\\= \frac{6 X 10^{-8} }{2} or \frac{4 X 10^{-8}}{2}\\= 3 X 10^{-8} C or 2 X 10^{-8} C$

q₁  = 5 × 10⁻⁸ C - q₂

q₁  = 5 × 10⁻⁸ C - 3 × 10⁻⁸ C or 5 × 10⁻⁸ C - 2 × 10⁻⁸ C

q₁  = 2 × 10⁻⁸ C or 3 × 10⁻⁸ C

So the charges are q₁  = 2 × 10⁻⁸ C and  q₂ = 3 × 10⁻⁸ C