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A metal sphere hangs from a string and has 2 kg of mass. The sphere has a charge

ID: 2124973 • Letter: A

Question

A metal sphere hangs from a string and has 2 kg of mass. The sphere has a charge of +6.5 C. A uniform electric field is turned on and directed to the right.

A)  What is the electric force on the metal sphere if the magnitude of the electric field is 106 N/C?

B)  When the sphere reaches equilibrium, what is the angle that the string makes with the vertical axis (assuming the same electric field as part (a)?

A metal sphere hangs from a string and has 2 kg of mass. The sphere has a charge of +6.5 mu C. A uniform electric field is turned on and directed to the right. What is the electric force on the metal sphere if the magnitude of the electric field is 106 N/C? When the sphere reaches equilibrium, what is the angle that the string makes with the vertical axis (assuming the same electric field as part (a)?

Explanation / Answer

A) F = q E = 6.5E-6*10^6 = 6.5 N


B) sum forces in the y:

T cos theta - m g = 0

T = mg/cos(theta)


sum forces in the x:

F - T sin theta = 0

6.5 = mg tan(theta)

theta = arctan( 6.5/(2*9.81))=18.33 degrees