The electrostatic force on a small sphere of charge 0.4μC due to another small sphere of charge 0.8μC 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? | question and answer !



Question :-

The electrostatic force on a small sphere of charge 0.4μC due to another small sphere of charge 0.8μC 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?

Answer :-

Answer (a)

(a) Electrostatic force on the first sphere, F = 0.2 N

Charge on this sphere,  q1 = 0.4μC= 0.4 x 10 power -6 C

Charge on the second sphere, q2 = -0.8μC= -0.8 x 10 power -6 C

Electrostatic force between the spheres is given by the relation,



Where, E0 = Permittivity of free space




The distance between the two spheres is 0.12 m.

Answer (b)

(b) Both the spheres attract each other with the same force (according to Newton’s 3rd Law).

Therefore, the force on the second sphere due to the first is 0.2 N.


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