Common static electricity involves charges ranging from nanocoulombs to microcoulombs. (a) How many electrons are needed to form a charge of −2.00 nC (b) How many electrons must be removed from a neutral object to leave a net charge of 0.500μC?
Suppose a speck of dust in an electrostatic precipitator has 1.0000×1012 protons in it and has a net charge of –5.00 nC (a very large charge for a small speck). How many electrons does it have?
An amoeba has 1.00×1016 protons and a net charge of
0.300 pC. (a) How many fewer electrons are there than protons? (b) If you paired them up, what fraction of the protons would have no electrons?
A 50.0 g ball of copper has a net charge of 2.00μC. What fraction of the copper's electrons has been removed? (Each copper atom has 29 protons, and copper has an atomic mass of 63.5.)
What net charge would you place on a 100 g piece of sulfur if you put an extra electron on 1 in 1012 of its atoms? (Sulfur has an atomic mass of 32.1.)
Sketch the electric field lines in the vicinity of the conductor in Figure 18.47 given the field was originally uniform and parallel to the object's long axis. Is the resulting field small near the long side of the object?
Sketch the electric field lines in the vicinity of the conductor in Figure 18.48 given the field was originally uniform and parallel to the object's long axis. Is the resulting field small near the long side of the object?
Sketch the electric field between the two conducting plates shown in Figure 18.49, given the top plate is positive and an equal amount of negative charge is on the bottom plate. Be certain to indicate the distribution of charge on the plates.
(a) Find the total electric field at x=1.00 cm in Figure 18.51(b) given that q=5.00 nC. (b) Find the total electric field at x=11.00 cm in Figure 18.51(b). (c) If the charges are allowed to move and eventually be brought to rest by friction, what will the final charge configuration be? (That is, will there be a single charge, double charge, etc., and what will its value(s) be?)
(a) Find the electric field at x=5.00 cm in Figure 18.51(a), given that q=1.00μC. (b) At what position between 3.00 and 8.00 cm is the total electric field the same as that for −2q alone? (c) Can the electric field be zero anywhere between 0.00 and 8.00 cm? (d) At very large positive or negative values of x, the electric field approaches zero in both (a) and (b). In which does it most rapidly approach zero and why? (e) At what position to the right of 11.0 cm is the total electric field zero, other than at infinity? (Hint: A graphing calculator can yield considerable insight in this problem.)
(a) Find the total Coulomb force on a charge of 2.00 nC located at x=4.00 cm in Figure 18.51 (b), given that q=1.00μC. (b) Find the x-position at which the electric field is zero in Figure 18.51 (b).
Using the symmetry of the arrangement, determine the direction of the force on q in the figure below, given that qa=qb=+7.50μC and qc=qd=−7.50μC. (b) Calculate the magnitude of the force on the charge q , given that the square is 10.0 cm on a side and q=2.00μC.
(a) Using the symmetry of the arrangement, determine the direction of the electric field at the center of the square in Figure 18.52, given that qa=qb=−1.00μC and qc=qd=+1.00μC. (b) Calculate the magnitude of the electric field at the location of q, given that the square is 5.00 cm on a side.
Find the total Coulomb force on the charge q in Figure 18.52, given that q=1.00μC, qa=2.00μC, qb=−3.00μC, qc=−4.00μC, and qd=+1.00μC.The square is 50.0 cm on a side.
(a) Find the electric field at the location of qa in Figure 18.53, given that qb=+10.00μC and qc=−5.00μC. (b) What is the force on qa, given that qa=+1.50 nC?
(a) Find the electric field at the center of the triangular configuration of charges in Figure 18.53, given that qa=+2.50 nC, qb=−8.00 nC, and qc=+1.50 nC. (b) Is there any combination of charges, other than qa=qb=qc, that will produce a zero strength electric field at the center of the triangular configuration? The equilateral triangle has a side length of 25.0 cm.
(a) How strong is the attractive force between a glass rod with a 0.700μC charge and a silk cloth with a −0.600μC charge, which are 12.0 cm apart, using the approximation that they act like point charges? (b) Discuss how the answer to this problem might be affected if the charges are distributed over some area and do not act like point charges.
If two equal charges each of 1 C each are separated in air by a distance of 1 km, what is the magnitude of the force acting between them? You will see that even at a distance as large as 1 km, the repulsive force is substantial because 1 C is a very significant amount of charge.
A test charge of +2μC is placed halfway between a charge of +6μC and another of +4μC separated by 10 cm. (a) What is the magnitude of the force on the test charge? (b) What is the direction of this force (away from or toward the +6μC charge)?
Bare free charges do not remain stationary when close together. To illustrate this, calculate the acceleration of two isolated protons separated by 2.00 nm (a typical distance between gas atoms). Explicitly show how you follow the steps in the Problem-Solving Strategy for electrostatics.
(a) By what factor must you change the distance between two point charges to change the force between them by a factor of 10? (b) Explain how the distance can either increase or decrease by this factor and still cause a factor of 10 change in the force.
Suppose you have a total charge qtot that you can split in any manner. Once split, the separation distance is fixed. How do you split the charge to achieve the greatest force?
(a) Common transparent tape becomes charged when pulled from a dispenser. If one piece is placed above another, the repulsive force can be great enough to support the top piece's weight. Assuming equal point charges (only an approximation), calculate the magnitude of the charge if electrostatic force is great enough to support the weight of a 10.0 mg piece of tape held 1.00 cm above another. (b) Discuss whether the magnitude of this charge is consistent with what is typical of static electricity.
a) Find the ratio of the electrostatic to gravitational force between two electrons. (b) What is this ratio for two protons? (c) Why is the ratio different for electrons and protons?
A certain five cent coin contains 5.00 g of nickel. What fraction of the nickel atoms' electrons, removed and placed 1.00 m above it, would support the weight of this coin? The atomic mass of nickel is 58.7, and each nickel atom contains 28 electrons and 28 protons.
(a) Two point charges totaling 8.00μC exert a repulsive
force of 0.150 N on one another when separated by 0.500 m. What is the charge on each? (b) What is the charge on each if the force is attractive?
Point charges of 5.00μC and −3.00μC are placed 0.250 m apart. (a) Where can a third charge be placed so that the net force on it is zero? (b) What if both charges are positive?
Two point charges q1 and q2 are 3.00 m apart, and their total charge is 20μC . (a) If the force of repulsion between them is 0.075N, what are magnitudes of the two charges? (b) If one charge attracts the other with a force of 0.525N, what are the magnitudes of the two charges? Note that you may need to solve a quadratic equation to reach your answer.
Calculate the initial (from rest) acceleration of a proton in a 5.00×106 N/C electric field (such as created by a research Van de Graaff). Explicitly show how you follow the steps in the Problem-Solving Strategy for electrostatics.
(a) Find the direction and magnitude of an electric field that exerts a 4.80×10−17 N westward force on an electron.
(b) What magnitude and direction force does this field exert on a proton?
Figure 18.54 shows the electric field lines near two charges q1 and q2. What is the ratio of their magnitudes? (b) Sketch the electric field lines a long distance from the charges shown in the figure.
Sketch the electric field lines in the vicinity of two opposite charges, where the negative charge is three times greater in magnitude than the positive. (See Figure 18.54 for a similar situation).
(a) What is the electric field 5.00 m from the center of the terminal of a Van de Graaff with a 3.00 mC charge, noting that the field is equivalent to that of a point charge at the center of the terminal? (b) At this distance, what force does the field exert on a 2.00μC charge on the Van de Graaff's belt?
(a) What is the direction and magnitude of an electric field that supports the weight of a free electron near the surface of Earth? (b) Discuss what the small value for this field implies regarding the relative strength of the gravitational and electrostatic forces.
A simple and common technique for accelerating electrons is shown in Figure 18.55, where there is a uniform electric field between two plates. Electrons are released, usually from a hot filament, near the negative plate, and there is a small hole in the positive plate that allows the electrons to continue moving. (a) Calculate the acceleration of the electron if the field strength is 2.50×104 N/C. (b) Explain why the electron will not be pulled back to the positive plate once it moves through the hole.
Earth has a net charge that produces an electric field of approximately 150 N/C downward at its surface. (a) What is the magnitude and sign of the excess charge, noting the electric field of a conducting sphere is equivalent to a point charge at its center? (b) What acceleration will the field produce on a free electron near Earth's surface? (c) What mass object with a single extra electron will have its weight supported by this field?
Point charges of 25.0μC and 45.0μC are placed 0.500 m apart. (a) At what point along the line between them is the electric field zero? (b) What is the electric field halfway between them?
Calculate the angular velocity Ω of an electron orbiting a proton in the hydrogen atom, given the radius of the orbit is 0.530×10−10 mYou may assume that the proton is stationary and the centripetal force is supplied by Coulomb attraction.
An electron has an initial velocity of 5.00×106 m/s in a uniform 2.00×105 N/C strength electric field. The field accelerates the electron in the direction opposite to its initial velocity. (a) What is the direction of the electric field? (b) How far does the electron travel before coming to rest? (c) How long does it take the electron to come to rest? (d) What is the electron's velocity when it returns to its starting point?
The practical limit to an electric field in air is about 3.00×106 N/C. Above this strength, sparking takes place because air begins to ionize and charges flow, reducing the field. (a) Calculate the distance a free proton must travel in this field to reach 3.00% of the speed of light, starting from rest. (b) Is this practical in air, or must it occur in a vacuum?
A 5.00 g charged insulating ball hangs on a 30.0 cm long string in a uniform horizontal electric field as shown in Figure 18.56. Given the charge on the ball is 1.00μC , find the strength of the field.
Figure 18.57 shows an electron passing between two charged metal plates that create an 100 N/C vertical electric field perpendicular to the electron's original horizontal velocity. (These can be used to change the electron's direction, such as in an oscilloscope.) The initial speed of the electron is 3.00×106 m/s, and the horizontal distance it travels in the uniform field is 4.00 cm. (a) What is its vertical deflection? (b) What is the vertical component of its final velocity? (c) At what angle does it exit? Neglect any edge effects.
The classic Millikan oil drop experiment was the first to obtain an accurate measurement of the charge on an electron. In it, oil drops were suspended against the gravitational force by a vertical electric field. (See Figure 18.58.) Given the oil drop to be 1.00μm in radius and have a density of 920 kg/m3: (a) Find the weight of the drop. (b) If the drop has a single excess electron, find the electric field strength needed to balance its weight.
(a) In Figure 18.59, four equal charges q lie on the corners of a square. A fifth charge Q is on a mass m directly above the center of the square, at a height equal to the length d of one side of the square. Determine the magnitude of q in terms of Q , m , and d , if the Coulomb force is to equal the weight of m. (b) Is this equilibrium stable or unstable? Discuss.
(a) Calculate the electric field strength near a 10.0 cm diameter conducting sphere that has 1.00 C of excess charge on it. (b) What is unreasonable about this result? (c) Which assumptions are responsible?
(a) Two 0.500 g raindrops in a thunderhead are 1.00 cm apart when they each acquire 1.00 mC charges. Find their acceleration. (b) What is unreasonable about this result? (c) Which premise or assumption is responsible?
A wrecking yard inventor wants to pick up cars by charging a 0.400 m diameter ball and inducing an equal and opposite charge on the car. If a car has a 1000 kg mass and the ball is to be able to lift it from a distance of 1.00 m: (a) What minimum charge must be used? (b) What is the electric field near the surface of the ball? (c) Why are these results unreasonable? (d) Which premise or assumption is responsible?
In an experiment, three microscopic latex spheres are sprayed into a chamber and become charged with +3e, +5e, and −3e, respectively. Later, all three spheres collide simultaneously and then separate. Which of the following are possible values for the final charges on the spheres? Select two answers.
Suppose a positively charged object A is brought in contact with an uncharged object B in a closed system. What type of charge will be left on object B?
In an experiment, a student runs a comb through his hair several times and brings it close to small pieces of paper. Which of the following will he observe?
Pieces of paper repel the comb.
Pieces of paper are attracted to the comb.
Some pieces of paper are attracted and some repel the
comb.
There is no attraction or repulsion between the pieces of
paper and the comb.
In an experiment a negatively charged balloon (balloon X) is repelled by another charged balloon Y. However, an object Z is attracted to balloon Y. Which of the following can be the charge on Z? Select two answers.
Suppose an object has a charge of 1 C and gains
6.88×1018 electrons.
What will be the net charge of the object?
If the object has gained electrons from a neutral object,
what will be the charge on the neutral object?
Find and explain the relationship between the total
charges of the two objects before and after the transfer.
When a third object is brought in contact with the first
object (after it gains the electrons), the resulting charge on the third object is 0.4 What was its initial charge?
In an experiment the following observations are made by a student for four charged objects W, X, Y, and Z.
A glass rod rubbed with silk attracts W.
W attracts Z and X.
X attracts Z but repels Y.
Y attracts W and Z.
Estimate whether the charges on each of the four objects are positive, negative, or neutral.
Note that this question has been modified slightly since the original version found in the OpenStax text has no possible solution.
Some students experimenting with an uncharged metal sphere want to give the sphere a net charge using a charged aluminum pie plate. Which of the following steps would give the sphere a net charge of the same sign as the pie plate?
bringing the pie plate close to, but not touching, the metal sphere, then moving the pie plate away.
bringing the pie plate close to, but not touching, the metal sphere, then momentarily touching a grounding wire to the metal sphere.
bringing the pie plate close to, but not touching, the metal sphere, then momentarily touching a grounding wire to the pie plate.
When the balloon is brought closer to the sphere, there will be a redistribution of charges. If the balloon is moved away after grounding, what will be the net charge on the sphere?
positive
negative
zero
It can be positive or negative depending on the material.
As shown in the figure below, two metal balls are suspended and a negatively charged rod is brought close to them.
If the two balls are in contact with each other what will be the charges on each ball?
Explain how the balls get these charges.
What will happen to the charge on the second ball (i.e.,
the ball further away from the rod) if it is momentarily
grounded while the rod is still there?
If (instead of grounding) the second ball is moved away
and then the rod is removed from the first ball, will the two balls have induced charges? If yes, what will be the charges? If no, why not?
Two experiments are performed using positively charged glass rods and neutral electroscopes. In the first experiment the rod is brought in contact with the electroscope. In the second experiment the rod is only brought close to the electroscope but not in contact. However, while the rod is close, the electroscope is momentarily grounded and then the rod is removed. In both experiments the needles of the electroscopes deflect, which indicates the presence of charges.
What is the charging method in each of the two experiments?
What is the net charge on the electroscope in the first experiment? Explain how the electroscope obtains that charge.
Is the net charge on the electroscope in the second experiment different from that of the first experiment? Explain why.
Suppose that the electric field experienced due to a positively charged small spherical conductor at a certain distance is E. What will be the percentage change in electric field experienced at thrice the distance if the charge on the conductor is doubled?
The classic Millikan oil drop experiment setup is shown below. In this experiment oil drops are suspended in a vertical electric field against the gravitational force to measure their charge. If the mass of a negatively charged drop suspended in an electric field of 1.18×10−4 N/C strength is 3.85×10−21 g, find the number of excess electrons in the drop.
Two massive, positively charged particles are initially held a fixed distance apart. When they are moved farther apart, the magnitude of their mutual gravitational force changes by a factor of n. Which of the following indicates the factor by which the magnitude of their mutual electrostatic force changes?
Two particles with charges +2q and +q are separated by a distance r. The +2q particle has an electric field E at distance r and exerts a force F on the +q particle.
What is the electric field of the +q particle at the same distance and what force does it exert on the +2q particle?
Two particles with charges +2q and +q are separated by a distance r. The +2q particle has an electric field E at distance r and exerts a force F on the +q particle.
When the +q particle is replaced by a +3q particle, what will be the electric field and force from the +2q particle experienced by the +3q particle?
Figure 18.65 An electric dipole (with +2q and –2q as the two charges) is shown in the figure below. A third charge, −q is placed equidistant from the dipole charges. What will be the direction of the net force on the third charge?
Four objects, each with charge +q, are held fixed on a square with sides of length d, as shown in Figure 18.66. Objects X and Z are at the midpoints of the sides of the square. The electrostatic force exerted by object W on object X is F.
What is the magnitude of force exerted by object W on Z?
Figure 18.67 below represents the electric field in the vicinity of three small charged objects, R, S, and T. The objects have charges −q, +2q, and −q, respectively, and are located on the x-axis at −d, 0, and d. Field vectors of very large magnitude are omitted for clarity.
Briefly describe the characteristics of the field diagram that indicate that the sign of the charges of objects R and T is negative and that the sign of the charge of object S is positive.
Briefly describe the characteristics of the field diagram that indicate that the magnitudes of the charges of objects R and T are equal and that the magnitude of the charge of object S is about twice that of objects R and T.
For the following parts, an electric field directed to the right is defined to be positive.
On the axes below in Figure 18.68, sketch a graph of the electric field E along the x-axis as a function of position x.
Write an expression for the electric field E along the x-axis as a function of position x in the region between objects S and T in terms of q, d, and fundamental constants, as appropriate.
Your classmate tells you there is a point between S and T where the electric field is zero. Determine whether this statement is true, and explain your reasoning using two of the representations from parts (a), (b), or (c).