Question

What is the magnitude of an electric field that balances the weight of a plastic sphere of mass 2.1 g that has been charged to -3.0 nc ?

Answer 1

Answer:

Electric field, $E=6.86\times 10^6\ N/C$

Explanation:

It is given that,

Mass of sphere, m = 2.1 g = 0.0021 kg

Charge, $q=-3\ nC=-3\times 10^{-9}\ C$

We need to find the magnitude of electric field that balances the weight of a plastic spheres. So,

$ma=qE$

a = g

$E=\dfrac{mg}{q}$

$E=\dfrac{0.0021\ kg\times 9.8\ m/s^2}{-3\times 10^{-9}\ C}$

$E=6860000\ N/C$

or

$E=6.86\times 10^6\ N/C$

Hence, the magnitude of electric field that balances its weight is $6.86\times 10^6\ N/C$. Hence, this is the required solution.