Question

An airplane is flying through a thundercloud at a height of 2000 m (This is a very dangerous thing to do because of updrafts, turbulence, and the possibility of electric discharge.) If there is a charge concentration of 40 C at height 3000 m with the cloud and -40 C at height 1000 m, what is the electric field at the aircraft

Answer 1

Answer:

$400000\ \text{N/C}$

Explanation:

$q_1$ = Charge at 3000 m = 40 C

$q_2$ = Charge at 1000 m = -40 C

$r_1$ = 3000 m

$r_2$ = 1000 m

k = Coulomb constant = $9\times10^9\ \text{Nm}^2/\text{C}^2$

Electric field due to the charge at 3000 m

$E_1=\dfrac{k|q_1|}{r_1^2}\\\Rightarrow E_1=\dfrac{9\times 10^9\times 40}{3000^2}\\\Rightarrow E_1=40000\ \text{N/C}$

Electric field due to the charge at 1000 m

$E_2=\dfrac{k|q_2|}{r_2^2}\\\Rightarrow E_2=\dfrac{9\times 10^9\times 40}{1000^2}\\\Rightarrow E_2=360000\ \text{N/C}$

Electric field at the aircraft is $E_1+E_2=40000+360000=400000\ \text{N/C}$.