I have tried this question a few different ways and have arrived at -718167 each
ID: 2284464 • Letter: I
Question
I have tried this question a few different ways and have arrived at -718167 each time, which is incorrect. Can someone please walk me through the steps to solve this problem?
A small 12.5g plastic ball is tied to a very light 29.7cm string that is attached to the vertical wall of a room. A uniform horizontal electric field exists in this room. When the ball has been given an excess charge or -1.4 microCoulombs, you observe that it remains suspended, with the string making an angle of 17.4 degrees with the wall. Find the madnitude of the electric field in the room.
Explanation / Answer
so sum forces in the y
T cos theta - mg = 0
T = mg/cos theta
sum in the x
q E - T sin theta = 0
q E - m g tan theta = 0
E = m g tan theta/q = 12.5E-3*9.81*tan(17.4 degrees)/1.4E-6= 27449 N/C