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Electric Charges And Fields

Question
CBSEENPH12037145

The electrostatic force on a small sphere of charge 0.4 μC due to another small sphere of charge –0.8 μc in air is 0.2 N.
(a) What is the distance between the two spheres?
(b) What is the force on the second sphere due to the first?

Solution

(a) Given,

   Force -F = 0.2 N   
                 charge -q1 = 0.4 μC = 0.4 × 10-6Ccharge-q2 = 0.8 μC = 0.8 × 10-6C   

Now using the formula,                                                                   F = 14πε0q1q2r2

Hence,                     r2 = 14πε0q1 q2F
                       r2 = 9×109×0.4×10-6×0.8×10-60.2r2 = 36 × 4 × 10-4 = 144 × 10-4r = 12 × 10-2m = 12 cm.

where, r is the distance between two spheres.

(b) Force on the second sphere due to the first is same, i.e., 0.2 N because the charges in action are same and force is attractive as charges are unlike in nature.