Answer:
2.1 The spheres move towards each other because unlike charges attract, while like charges attract
2.2 +1.6 nC each
2.3 -9.98641451914 × 10⁹ electrons
2.4 P to Q
2.5 Sphere Q has a higher electric potential than Sphere P, therefore electrons move from P to sphere Q
Explanation:
The given parameters are;
The number of charges spheres in the system = 2 spheres
The type of spheres = Identical spheres
The charges on the spheres;
The charge on sphere, P, q₁ = -2.4 nC
The charge on sphere, Q, q₂ = +5.6 nC
2.1 The spheres move towards each other because unlike charges attract, while like charges attract each other
However, when the spheres touch each other, the sum of the charges are equally distributed across both spheres until they both have the same amount and type of charge and therefore have no net attraction and repel each other
2.2 The charge on the each sphere after they separate, Q = (q₁ + q₂)/2
∴ Q = (-2.4 nC + 5.6 nC)/2 = +1.6 nC
The charge on the each sphere after they separate, Q = +1.6 nC
2.3 The charge of an electron, e = -1.602176634 × 10⁻¹⁹ C
The number of electrons found on Sphere P after separation, 'n', is given as follows;
n = 1.6 × 10⁻⁹/(-1.602176634 × 10⁻¹⁹) ≈ -9986414519.14
The number of electrons found on Sphere P after separation, n = Less 9.98641451914 × 10⁹ electrons
2.4 Sphere P is negatively a charged while Sphere Q is positively charged, therefore, there are more electrons in Sphere P, than positively charged ions and electrons will move from;
P to Q
2.5 Sphere Q is positively charged and has lost electrons and it is electron deficient having a high affinity for electrons, while Sphere P is negatively charged and therefore has an excess amount of electrons
Therefore, due to the electric potential difference between Sphere Q and Sphere P, current will move from the high electric potential sphere, Sphere Q to Sphere P while electrons will move in the reverse direction, which is from Sphere P to Sphere Q.
