4/12/12

Problems

Print this page

PROBLEMS
sec.214Coulomb'sLaw
1

OfthechargeQinitiallyonatinysphere,aportionqistobetransferredtoasecond,nearbysphere.
Bothspherescanbetreatedasparticles.Forwhatvalueofq/Qwilltheelectrostaticforcebetweenthetwospheres
bemaximized?
Answer:
0.500

2Identicalisolatedconductingspheres1and2haveequalchargesandareseparatedbyadistancethatislarge
comparedwiththeirdiameters(Fig.2121a).Theelectrostaticforceactingonsphere2duetosphere1is .
Supposenowthatathirdidenticalsphere3,havinganinsulatinghandleandinitiallyneutral,istouchedfirstto
sphere1(Fig.2121b),thentosphere2(Fig.2121c),andfinallyremoved(Fig.2121d).Theelectrostaticforce
thatnowactsonsphere2hasmagnitudeF.WhatistheratioF/F?

Figure2121Problem2.

Whatmustbethedistancebetweenpointchargeq1=26.0Candpointchargeq2=47.0Cforthe
electrostaticforcebetweenthemtohaveamagnitudeof5.70N?
Answer:
1.39m

Inthereturnstrokeofatypicallightningbolt,acurrentof2.5104Aexistsfor20s.Howmuchcharge
istransferredinthisevent?

5 Aparticleofcharge+3.00106Cis12.0cmdistantfromasecondparticleofcharge1.50106C.Calculate
themagnitudeoftheelectrostaticforcebetweentheparticles.
Answer:
2.81N
6

Twoequallychargedparticlesareheld3.2103mapartandthenreleasedfromrest.Theinitial
accelerationofthefirstparticleisobservedtobe7.0m/s2andthatofthesecondtobe9.0m/s2.Ifthemassofthe

edugen.wileyplus.com/edugen/courses/crs4957//aGFsbGlkYXk5MDg4YzIxXzlfMC54Zm9ybQ.enc?

1/13

4/12/12

Problems

firstparticleis6.3107kg,whatare(a)themassofthesecondparticleand(b)themagnitudeofthechargeof
eachparticle?
7InFig.2122,threechargedparticleslieonanxaxis.Particles1and2arefixedinplace.Particle3isfreeto
move,butthenetelectrostaticforceonitfromparticles1and2happenstobezero.IfL23=L12,whatistheratio
q1/q2?

Figure2122Problems7and40.

Answer:
4.00
8InFig.2123,threeidenticalconductingspheresinitiallyhavethefollowingcharges:sphereA,4QsphereB,
6QandsphereC,0.SpheresAandBarefixedinplace,withacentertocenterseparationthatismuchlarger
thanthespheres.Twoexperimentsareconducted.Inexperiment1,sphereCistouchedtosphereAandthen
(separately)tosphereB,andthenitisremoved.Inexperiment2,startingwiththesameinitialstates,the
procedureisreversed:SphereCistouchedtosphereBandthen(separately)tosphereA,andthenitisremoved.
WhatistheratiooftheelectrostaticforcebetweenAandBattheendofexperiment2tothatattheendof
experiment1?

Figure2123Problems8and65.

Twoidenticalconductingspheres,fixedinplace,attracteachotherwithanelectrostaticforceof
0.108Nwhentheircentertocenterseparationis50.0cm.Thespheresarethenconnectedbyathinconducting
wire.Whenthewireisremoved,thespheresrepeleachotherwithanelectrostaticforceof0.0360N.Oftheinitial
chargesonthespheres,withapositivenetcharge,whatwas(a)thenegativechargeononeofthemand(b)the
positivechargeontheother?
Answer:
(a)1.00C(b)3.00C

10

InFig.2124,fourparticlesformasquare.Thechargesareq1=q4=Qandq2=q3=q.(a)WhatisQ/qif
thenetelectrostaticforceonparticles1and4iszero?(b)Isthereanyvalueofqthatmakesthenetelectrostatic
forceoneachofthefourparticleszero?Explain.

edugen.wileyplus.com/edugen/courses/crs4957//aGFsbGlkYXk5MDg4YzIxXzlfMC54Zm9ybQ.enc?

2/13

4/12/12

Problems

Figure2124Problems10,11,and70.

11

InFig.2124,theparticleshavechargesq1=q2=100nCandq3=q4=200nC,anddistancea=5.0
cm.Whatarethe(a)xand(b)ycomponentsofthenetelectrostaticforceonparticle3?
Answer:
(a)0.17N(b)0.046N

12Twoparticlesarefixedonanxaxis.Particle1ofcharge40Cislocatedatx=2.0cmparticle2ofchargeQ
islocatedatx=3.0cm.Particle3ofchargemagnitude20Cisreleasedfromrestontheyaxisaty=2.0cm.
WhatisthevalueofQiftheinitialaccelerationofparticle3isinthepositivedirectionof(a)thexaxisand(b)
theyaxis?
13

InFig.2125,particle1ofcharge+1.0Candparticle2ofcharge3.0CareheldatseparationL=10.0
cmonanxaxis.Ifparticle3ofunknownchargeq3istobelocatedsuchthatthenetelectrostaticforceonitfrom
particles1and2iszero,whatmustbethe(a)xand(b)ycoordinatesofparticle3?

Figure2125Problems13,19,30,46,and67.

Answer:
(a)14cm(b)0
14Threeparticlesarefixedonanxaxis.Particle1ofchargeq1isatx=a,andparticle2ofchargeq2isatx=+a.
Iftheirnetelectrostaticforceonparticle3ofcharge+Qistobezero,whatmustbetheratioq1/q2whenparticle
3isat(a)x=+0.500aand(b)x=+1.50a?
15

Thechargesandcoordinatesoftwochargedparticlesheldfixedinanxyplaneareq1=+3.0C,x1=3.5
cm,y1=0.50cm,andq2=4.0C,x2=2.0cm,y2=1.5cm.Findthe(a)magnitudeand(b)directionofthe
electrostaticforceonparticle2duetoparticle1.Atwhat(c)xand(d)ycoordinatesshouldathirdparticleof
chargeq3=+4.0Cbeplacedsuchthatthenetelectrostaticforceonparticle2duetoparticles1and3iszero?
Answer:
(a)35N(b)10(c)8.4cm(d)+2.7cm

16

InFig.2126a,particle1(ofchargeq1)andparticle2(ofchargeq2)arefixedinplaceonanxaxis,8.00cm
apart.Particle3(ofchargeq3=+8.001019C)istobeplacedonthelinebetweenparticles1and2sothatthey
produceanetelectrostaticforce

onit.Figure2126bgivesthexcomponentofthatforceversusthe

coordinatexatwhichparticle3isplaced.Thescaleofthexaxisissetbyxs=8.0cm.Whatare(a)thesignof
chargeq1and(b)theratioq2/q1?

Figure2126Problem16.

17InFig.2127a,particles1and2havecharge20.0Ceachandareheldatseparationdistanced=1.50m.(a)
edugen.wileyplus.com/edugen/courses/crs4957//aGFsbGlkYXk5MDg4YzIxXzlfMC54Zm9ybQ.enc?

3/13

4/12/12

Problems

Whatisthemagnitudeoftheelectrostaticforceonparticle1duetoparticle2?InFig.2127b,particle3of
charge20.0Cispositionedsoastocompleteanequilateraltriangle.(b)Whatisthemagnitudeofthenet
electrostaticforceonparticle1duetoparticles2and3?

Figure2127Problem17.

Answer:
(a)1.60N(b)2.77N
18InFig.2128a,threepositivelychargedparticlesarefixedonanxaxis.ParticlesBandCaresoclosetoeach
otherthattheycanbeconsideredtobeatthesamedistancefromparticleA.ThenetforceonparticleAdueto
particlesBandCis2.0141023Ninthenegativedirectionofthexaxis.InFig.2128b,particleBhasbeen
movedtotheoppositesideofAbutisstillatthesamedistancefromit.ThenetforceonAisnow2.8771024
Ninthenegativedirectionofthexaxis.WhatistheratioqC/qB?

Figure2128Problem18.

19

InFig.2125,particle1ofchargeqandparticle2ofcharge+4.00qareheldatseparationL=
9.00cmonanxaxis.Ifparticle3ofchargeq3istobelocatedsuchthatthethreeparticlesremaininplacewhen
released,whatmustbethe(a)xand(b)ycoordinatesofparticle3,and(c)theratioq3/q?
Answer:
(a)3.00cm(b)0(c)0.444

20Figure2129ashowsanarrangementofthreechargedparticlesseparatedbydistanced.ParticlesAandCare
fixedonthexaxis,butparticleBcanbemovedalongacirclecenteredonparticleA.Duringthemovement,a
radiallinebetweenAandBmakesananglerelativetothepositivedirectionofthexaxis(Fig.2129b).The
curvesinFig.2129cgive,fortwosituations,themagnitudeF netofthenetelectrostaticforceonparticleAdue
totheotherparticles.ThatnetforceisgivenasafunctionofangleandasamultipleofabasicamountF 0.For
exampleoncurve1,at=180,weseethatF net=2F 0.(a)Forthesituationcorrespondingtocurve1,whatis
theratioofthechargeofparticleCtothatofparticleB(includingsign)?(b)Forthesituationcorrespondingto
curve2,whatisthatratio?

edugen.wileyplus.com/edugen/courses/crs4957//aGFsbGlkYXk5MDg4YzIxXzlfMC54Zm9ybQ.enc?

4/13

4/12/12

Problems

Figure2129Problem20.

21Anonconductingsphericalshell,withaninnerradiusof4.0cmandanouterradiusof6.0cm,haschargespread
nonuniformlythroughitsvolumebetweenitsinnerandoutersurfaces.Thevolumechargedensityisthe
chargeperunitvolume,withtheunitcoulombpercubicmeter.Forthisshell=b/r,whereristhedistancein
metersfromthecenteroftheshellandb=3.0C/m2.Whatisthenetchargeintheshell?
Answer:
3.8108C
22

Figure2130showsanarrangementoffourchargedparticles,withangle=30.0anddistanced=2.00
cm.Particle2haschargeq2=+8.001019Cparticles3and4havechargesq3=q4=1.601019C.(a)
WhatisdistanceDbetweentheoriginandparticle2ifthenetelectrostaticforceonparticle1duetotheother
particlesiszero?(b)Ifparticles3and4weremovedclosertothexaxisbutmaintainedtheirsymmetryabout
thataxis,wouldtherequiredvalueofDbegreaterthan,lessthan,orthesameasinpart(a)?

Figure2130Problem22.

23 InFig.2131,particles1and2ofchargeq =q =+3.201019Careonayaxisatdistanced=17.0cm
1
2
fromtheorigin.Particle3ofchargeq3=+6.401019Cismovedgraduallyalongthexaxisfromx=0tox=
+5.0m.Atwhatvaluesofxwillthemagnitudeoftheelectrostaticforceonthethirdparticlefromtheothertwo
particlesbe(a)minimumand(b)maximum?Whatarethe(c)minimumand(d)maximummagnitudes?

Figure2131Problem23.

Answer:
edugen.wileyplus.com/edugen/courses/crs4957//aGFsbGlkYXk5MDg4YzIxXzlfMC54Zm9ybQ.enc?

5/13

4/12/12

Problems

(a)0(b)12cm(c)0(d)4.91026N

sec.215ChargeisQuantized
24 Twotiny,sphericalwaterdrops,withidenticalchargesof1.001016C,haveacentertocenterseparationof
1.00cm.(a)Whatisthemagnitudeoftheelectrostaticforceactingbetweenthem?(b)Howmanyexcesselectrons
areoneachdrop,givingititschargeimbalance?
25

Howmanyelectronswouldhavetoberemovedfromacointoleaveitwithachargeof+1.0107C?
Answer:
6.31011

26 Whatisthemagnitudeoftheelectrostaticforcebetweenasinglychargedsodiumion(Na+,ofcharge+e)andan
adjacentsinglychargedchlorineion(Cl,ofchargee)inasaltcrystaliftheirseparationis2.821010m?
27

Themagnitudeoftheelectrostaticforcebetweentwoidenticalionsthatareseparatedbyadistanceof5.0
1010mis3.7109N.(a)Whatisthechargeofeachion?(b)Howmanyelectronsaremissingfromeach
ion(thusgivingtheionitschargeimbalance)?
Answer:
(a)3.21019C(b)2

28

Acurrentof0.300Athroughyourchestcansendyourheartintofibrillation,ruiningthenormalrhythm
ofheartbeatanddisruptingtheflowofblood(andthusoxygen)toyourbrain.Ifthatcurrentpersistsfor2.00
min,howmanyconductionelectronspassthroughyourchest?

29

InFig.2132,particles2and4,ofchargee,arefixedinplaceonayaxis,aty2=10.0cmandy4=5.00
cm.Particles1and3,ofchargee,canbemovedalongthexaxis.Particle5,ofcharge+e,isfixedattheorigin.
Initiallyparticle1isatx1=10.0cmandparticle3isatx3=10.0cm.(a)Towhatxvaluemustparticle1be
movedtorotatethedirectionofthenetelectricforce

onparticle5by30counterclockwise?(b)With

particle1fixedatitsnewposition,towhatxvaluemustyoumoveparticle3torotate
direction?

backtoitsoriginal

Figure2132Problem29.

Answer:
(a)6.05cm(b)6.05cm
30InFig.2125,particles1and2arefixedinplaceonanxaxis,ataseparationofL=8.00cm.Theirchargesare
q1=+eandq2=27e.Particle3withchargeq3=+4eistobeplacedonthelinebetweenparticles1and2,so
thattheyproduceanetelectrostaticforce

onit.(a)Atwhatcoordinateshouldparticle3beplacedto

minimizethemagnitudeofthatforce?(b)Whatisthatminimummagnitude?
31

Earth'satmosphereisconstantlybombardedbycosmicrayprotonsthatoriginatesomewhereinspace.If
theprotonsallpassedthroughtheatmosphere,eachsquaremeterofEarth'ssurfacewouldinterceptprotonsatthe
averagerateof1500protonspersecond.Whatwouldbetheelectriccurrentinterceptedbythetotalsurfacearea

edugen.wileyplus.com/edugen/courses/crs4957//aGFsbGlkYXk5MDg4YzIxXzlfMC54Zm9ybQ.enc?

6/13

4/12/12

Problems

oftheplanet?
Answer:
122mA
32Figure2133ashowschargedparticles1and2thatarefixedinplaceonanxaxis.Particle1hasachargewitha
magnitudeof|q1|=8.00e.Particle3ofchargeq3=+8.00eisinitiallyonthexaxisnearparticle2.Thenparticle
3isgraduallymovedinthepositivedirectionofthexaxis.Asaresult,themagnitudeofthenetelectrostatic
force
onparticle2duetoparticles1and3changes.Figure2133bgivesthexcomponentofthatnet
forceasafunctionofthepositionxofparticle3.Thescaleofthexaxisissetbyxs=0.80m.Theplothasan
asymptoteofF 2,net=1.51025Nasx.Asamultipleofeandincludingthesign,whatisthechargeq2
ofparticle2?

Figure2133Problem32.

33 Calculatethenumberofcoulombsofpositivechargein250cm3of(neutral)water.(Hint:Ahydrogenatom
containsoneprotonanoxygenatomcontainseightprotons.)
Answer:
1.3107C
34Figure2134showselectrons1and2onanxaxisandchargedions3and4ofidenticalchargeqandat
identicalangles.Electron2isfreetomovetheotherthreeparticlesarefixedinplaceathorizontaldistancesR
fromelectron2andareintendedtoholdelectron2inplace.Forphysicallypossiblevaluesofq5e,whatare
the(a)smallest,(b)secondsmallest,and(c)thirdsmallestvaluesofforwhichelectron2isheldinplace?

Figure2134Problem34.

35

Incrystalsofthesaltcesiumchloride,cesiumionsCs+formtheeightcornersofacubeandachlorine
ionClisatthecube'scenter(Fig.2135).Theedgelengthofthecubeis0.40nm.TheCs+ionsareeach
deficientbyoneelectron(andthuseachhasachargeof+e),andtheClionhasoneexcesselectron(andthus
hasachargeofe).(a)WhatisthemagnitudeofthenetelectrostaticforceexertedontheClionbytheeight

edugen.wileyplus.com/edugen/courses/crs4957//aGFsbGlkYXk5MDg4YzIxXzlfMC54Zm9ybQ.enc?

7/13

4/12/12

Problems

Cs+ionsatthecornersofthecube?(b)IfoneoftheCs+ionsismissing,thecrystalissaidtohaveadefect
whatisthemagnitudeofthenetelectrostaticforceexertedontheClionbythesevenremainingCs+ions?

Figure2135Problem35.

Answer:
(a)0(b)1.9109N

sec.216ChargeisConserved
36Electronsandpositronsareproducedbythenucleartransformationsofprotonsandneutronsknownasbetadecay.
(a)Ifaprotontransformsintoaneutron,isanelectronorapositronproduced?(b)Ifaneutrontransformsintoa
proton,isanelectronorapositronproduced?
37

IdentifyXinthefollowingnuclearreactions:(a) 1H+ 9BeX+n(b) 12C+ 1HX(c) 15N+ 1H

4He+X.AppendixFwillhelp.

Answer:
(a) 9B(b) 13N(c) 12C

AdditionalProblems
38

Figure2136showsfouridenticalconductingspheresthatareactuallywellseparatedfromoneanother.Sphere
W(withaninitialchargeofzero)istouchedtosphereAandthentheyareseparated.Next,sphereWistouchedto
sphereB(withaninitialchargeof32e)andthentheyareseparated.Finally,sphereWistouchedtosphereC
(withaninitialchargeof+48e),andthentheyareseparated.ThefinalchargeonsphereWis+18e.Whatwasthe
initialchargeonsphereA?

Figure2136Problem38.

39

InFig.2137,particle1ofcharge+4eisaboveafloorbydistanced1=2.00mmandparticle2ofcharge
+6eisonthefloor,atdistanced2=6.00mmhorizontallyfromparticle1.Whatisthexcomponentofthe
electrostaticforceonparticle2duetoparticle1?

edugen.wileyplus.com/edugen/courses/crs4957//aGFsbGlkYXk5MDg4YzIxXzlfMC54Zm9ybQ.enc?

8/13

4/12/12

Problems

Figure2137Problem39.

Answer:
1.311022N
40InFig.2122,particles1and2arefixedinplace,butparticle3isfreetomove.Ifthenetelectrostaticforceon
particle3duetoparticles1and2iszeroandL23=2.00L12,whatistheratioq1/q2?
41WhatequalpositivechargeswouldhavetobeplacedonEarthandontheMoontoneutralizetheirgravitational
attraction?(b)Whydon'tyouneedtoknowthelunardistancetosolvethisproblem?(c)Howmanykilogramsof
hydrogenions(thatis,protons)wouldbeneededtoprovidethepositivechargecalculatedin(a)?
Answer:
(a)5.71013C(b)cancelsout(c)6.0105kg
42InFig.2138,twotinyconductingballsofidenticalmassmandidenticalchargeqhangfromnonconducting
threadsoflengthL.Assumethatissosmallthattancanbereplacedbyitsapproximateequal,sin(a)Show
that

givestheequilibriumseparationxoftheballs.(b)IfL=120cm,m=10g,andx=5.0cm,whatis|q|?

Figure2138Problems42and43.

43ExplainwhathappenstotheballsofProblem42ifoneofthemisdischarged(losesitschargeqto,say,the
ground).(b)Findthenewequilibriumseparationx,usingthegivenvaluesofLandmandthecomputedvalueof
|q|.
Answer:
(b)3.1cm
44

Howfarapartmusttwoprotonsbeifthemagnitudeoftheelectrostaticforceactingoneitheronedueto
theotherisequaltothemagnitudeofthegravitationalforceonaprotonatEarth'ssurface?

45Howmanymegacoulombsofpositivechargearein1.00molofneutralmolecularhydrogengas(H2)?
Answer:
0.19MC
edugen.wileyplus.com/edugen/courses/crs4957//aGFsbGlkYXk5MDg4YzIxXzlfMC54Zm9ybQ.enc?

9/13

4/12/12

Problems

46InFig.2139,fourparticlesarefixedalonganxaxis,separatedbydistancesd=2.00cm.Thechargesareq1=
+2e,q2=e,q3=e,andq4=+4e,withe=1.601019C.Inunitvectornotation,whatisthenetelectrostatic
forceon(a)particle1and(b)particle2duetotheotherparticles?

Figure2139Problem46.

47

Pointchargesof+6.0Cand4.0Careplacedonanxaxis,atx=8.0mandx=16m,respectively.What
chargemustbeplacedatx=24msothatanychargeplacedattheoriginwouldexperiencenoelectrostaticforce?
Answer:
45C

48InFig.2140,threeidenticalconductingspheresformanequilateraltriangleofsidelengthd=20.0cm.The
sphereradiiaremuchsmallerthand,andthespherechargesareqA=2.00nC,qB=4.00nC,andqC=+8.00nC.
(a)WhatisthemagnitudeoftheelectrostaticforcebetweenspheresAandC?Thefollowingstepsarethentaken:
AandBareconnectedbyathinwireandthendisconnectedBisgroundedbythewire,andthewireisthen
removedBandCareconnectedbythewireandthendisconnected.Whatnowarethemagnitudesofthe
electrostaticforce(b)betweenspheresAandCand(c)betweenspheresBandC?

Figure2140Problem48.

49Aneutronconsistsofoneupquarkofcharge+2e/3andtwodownquarkseachhavingchargee/3.Ifwe
assumethatthedownquarksare2.61015mapartinsidetheneutron,whatisthemagnitudeoftheelectrostatic
forcebetweenthem?
Answer:
3.8N
50Figure2141showsalong,nonconducting,masslessrodoflengthL,pivotedatitscenterandbalancedwitha
blockofweightWatadistancexfromtheleftend.Attheleftandrightendsoftherodareattachedsmall
conductingsphereswithpositivechargesqand2q,respectively.Adistancehdirectlybeneatheachofthesespheres
isafixedspherewithpositivechargeQ.(a)Findthedistancexwhentherodishorizontalandbalanced.(b)What
valueshouldhhavesothattherodexertsnoverticalforceonthebearingwhentherodishorizontalandbalanced?

Figure2141Problem50.

51 Achargednonconductingrod,withalengthof2.00mandacrosssectionalareaof4.00cm2,liesalongthe
edugen.wileyplus.com/edugen/courses/crs4957//aGFsbGlkYXk5MDg4YzIxXzlfMC54Zm9ybQ.enc?

10/13

4/12/12

Problems

positivesideofanxaxiswithoneendattheorigin.Thevolumechargedensityischargeperunitvolumein
coulombspercubicmeter.Howmanyexcesselectronsareontherodifis(a)uniform,withavalueof4.00
C/m3,and(b)nonuniform,withavaluegivenby=bx2,whereb=2.00C/m5?
Answer:
(a)2.001010electrons(b)1.331010electrons
52AparticleofchargeQisfixedattheoriginofanxycoordinatesystem.Att=0aparticle(m=0.800g,q=4.00
C)islocatedonthexaxisatx=20.0cm,movingwithaspeedof50.0m/sinthepositiveydirection.Forwhat
valueofQwillthemovingparticleexecutecircularmotion?(Neglectthegravitationalforceontheparticle.)
53Whatwouldbethemagnitudeoftheelectrostaticforcebetweentwo1.00Cpointchargesseparatedbyadistance
of(a)1.00mand(b)1.00kmifsuchpointchargesexisted(theydonot)andthisconfigurationcouldbesetup?
Answer:
(a)8.99109N(b)8.99kN
54Achargeof6.0Cistobesplitintotwopartsthatarethenseparatedby3.0mm.Whatisthemaximumpossible
magnitudeoftheelectrostaticforcebetweenthosetwoparts?
55OfthechargeQonatinysphere,afractionaistobetransferredtoasecond,nearbysphere.Thespherescanbe
treatedasparticles.(a)WhatvalueofamaximizesthemagnitudeFoftheelectrostaticforcebetweenthetwo
spheres?Whatarethe(b)smallerand(c)largervaluesofathatputFathalfthemaximummagnitude?
Answer:
(a)0.5(b)0.15(c)0.85
56

Ifacatrepeatedlyrubsagainstyourcottonslacksonadryday,thechargetransferbetweenthecathair
andthecottoncanleaveyouwithanexcesschargeof2.00C.(a)Howmanyelectronsaretransferredbetween
youandthecat?
Youwillgraduallydischargeviathefloor,butifinsteadofwaiting,youimmediatelyreachtowardafaucet,a
painfulsparkcansuddenlyappearasyourfingersnearthefaucet.(b)Inthatspark,doelectronsflowfromyouto
thefaucetorviceversa?(c)Justbeforethesparkappears,doyouinducepositiveornegativechargeinthefaucet?
(d)If,instead,thecatreachesapawtowardthefaucet,whichwaydoelectronsflowintheresultingspark?(e)If
youstrokeacatwithabarehandonadryday,youshouldtakecarenottobringyourfingersnearthecat'snoseor
youwillhurtitwithaspark.Consideringthatcathairisaninsulator,explainhowthesparkcanappear.

57Weknowthatthenegativechargeontheelectronandthepositivechargeontheprotonareequal.Suppose,
however,thatthesemagnitudesdifferfromeachotherby0.00010%.Withwhatforcewouldtwocoppercoins,
placed1.0mapart,repeleachother?Assumethateachcoincontains31022copperatoms.(Hint:Aneutral
copperatomcontains29protonsand29electrons.)Whatdoyouconclude?
Answer:
1.7108N
58InFig.2125,particle1ofcharge80.0Candparticle2ofcharge+40.0CareheldatseparationL=20.0cm
onanxaxis.Inunitvectornotation,whatisthenetelectrostaticforceonparticle3,ofchargeq3=20.0C,if
particle3isplacedat(a)x=40.0cmand(b)x=80.0cm?Whatshouldbethe(c)xand(d)ycoordinatesof
particle3ifthenetelectrostaticforceonitduetoparticles1and2iszero?
59Whatisthetotalchargeincoulombsof75.0kgofelectrons?
Answer:
1.321013C
60InFig.2142,sixchargedparticlessurroundparticle7atradialdistancesofeitherd=1.0cmor2d,asdrawn.The
edugen.wileyplus.com/edugen/courses/crs4957//aGFsbGlkYXk5MDg4YzIxXzlfMC54Zm9ybQ.enc?

11/13

4/12/12

Problems

chargesareq1=+2e,q2=+4e,q3=+e,q4=+4e,q5=+2e,q6=+8e,q7=+6e,withe=1.601019C.Whatis
themagnitudeofthenetelectrostaticforceonparticle7?

Figure2142Problem60.

61Threechargedparticlesformatriangle:particle1withchargeQ1=80.0nCisatxycoordinates(0,3.00mm),
particle2withchargeQ2isat(0,3.00mm),andparticle3withchargeq=18.0nCisat(4.00mm,0).Inunit
vectornotation,whatistheelectrostaticforceonparticle3duetotheothertwoparticlesifQ2isequalto(a)80.0
nCand(b)80.0nC?
Answer:
(a)
62

(b)
InFig.2143,whatarethe(a)magnitudeand(b)directionofthenetelectrostaticforceonparticle4dueto

theotherthreeparticles?Allfourparticlesarefixedinthexyplane,andq1=3.201019C,q2=+3.201019
C,q3=+6.401019C,q4=+3.201019C,1=35.0,d1=3.00cm,andd2=d3=2.00cm.

Figure2143Problem62.

63Twopointchargesof30nCand40nCareheldfixedonanxaxis,attheoriginandatx=72cm,respectively.A
particlewithachargeof42Cisreleasedfromrestatx=28cm.Iftheinitialaccelerationoftheparticlehasa
magnitudeof100km/s2,whatistheparticle'smass?
Answer:
2.2106kg
64 Twosmall,positivelychargedsphereshaveacombinedchargeof5.0105C.Ifeachsphereisrepelledfromthe
otherbyanelectrostaticforceof1.0Nwhenthespheresare2.0mapart,whatisthechargeonthespherewiththe
smallercharge?
65TheinitialchargesonthethreeidenticalmetalspheresinFig.2123arethefollowing:sphereA,QsphereB,
Q/4andsphereC,Q/2,whereQ=2.001014C.SpheresAandBarefixedinplace,withacentertocenter
separationofd=1.20m,whichismuchlargerthanthespheres.SphereCistouchedfirsttosphereAandthento
sphereBandisthenremoved.WhatthenisthemagnitudeoftheelectrostaticforcebetweenspheresAandB?
edugen.wileyplus.com/edugen/courses/crs4957//aGFsbGlkYXk5MDg4YzIxXzlfMC54Zm9ybQ.enc?

12/13

4/12/12

Problems

Answer:
4.681019N
66AnelectronisinavacuumnearEarth'ssurfaceandlocatedaty=0onaverticalyaxis.Atwhatvalueofyshould
asecondelectronbeplacedsuchthatitselectrostaticforceonthefirstelectronbalancesthegravitationalforceon
thefirstelectron?
67

InFig.2125,particle1ofcharge5.00qandparticle2ofcharge+2.00qareheldatseparationLonanx
axis.Ifparticle3ofunknownchargeq3istobelocatedsuchthatthenetelectrostaticforceonitfromparticles1
and2iszero,whatmustbethe(a)xand(b)ycoordinatesofparticle3?
Answer:
(a)2.72L(b)0

68Twoengineeringstudents,Johnwithamassof90kgandMarywithamassof45kg,are30mapart.Suppose
eachhasa0.01%imbalanceintheamountofpositiveandnegativecharge,onestudentbeingpositiveandtheother
negative.Findtheorderofmagnitudeoftheelectrostaticforceofattractionbetweenthembyreplacingeach
studentwithasphereofwaterhavingthesamemassasthestudent.
69 IntheradioactivedecayofEq.2113,a 238Unucleustransformsto 234Thandanejected 4He.(Thesearenuclei,
notatoms,andthuselectronsarenotinvolved.)Whentheseparationbetween 234Thand 4Heis9.01015m,
whatarethemagnitudesof(a)theelectrostaticforcebetweenthemand(b)theaccelerationofthe 4Heparticle?
Answer:
(a)5.1102N(b)7.71028m/s2
70InFig.2124,fourparticlesformasquare.Thechargesareq1=+Q,q2=q3=q,andq4=2.00Q.Whatisq/Qif
thenetelectrostaticforceonparticle1iszero?

Copyright2011JohnWiley&Sons,Inc.Allrightsreserved.

edugen.wileyplus.com/edugen/courses/crs4957//aGFsbGlkYXk5MDg4YzIxXzlfMC54Zm9ybQ.enc?

13/13