In the figure, a solid metallic grounded sphere of mass m and radius R is suspended from a ceiling as shown. The length of string is L and the distance between ceiling and floor is 2 L . At the floor, directly below the point of suspension is a fixed point charge q .
Find the time period of small oscillations in the vertical plane of the sphere in seconds
Details and assumptions:
1) The sphere is grounded by means of a long slack wire that doesn't interrupt its motion
2) m = 1 K g
3) g = 9 . 8 m / s 2
4) L = 5 0 cm
5) R = 2 5 cm
6) q = 1 0 μ C
7) k = 4 π ϵ 0 1 = 9 × 1 0 9 N m 2 / C 2
This section requires Javascript.
You are seeing this because something didn't load right. We suggest you, (a) try
refreshing the page, (b) enabling javascript if it is disabled on your browser and,
finally, (c)
loading the
non-javascript version of this page
. We're sorry about the hassle.
Very interesting problem :)
Nice solution Anish! :)
I did not go by the torque approach as I was not sure if it would be correct to place the force vector on the centre of sphere. I instead solved it by energy.
Log in to reply
It would have been correct, because of symmetry. Nice solution, +1
Log in to reply
Btw, the problem didn't mention whether the sphere could rotate about its axis or not...I just tried both ways.
I would love to know how did you implement electrostatic energy in the equation. Can you post the method please??
Log in to reply
Well, It is pretty similar to the Torque method. Considering the same diagram, let us determine the Potential Energy of the Sphere (taking the bottom-end of the equilibrium position as reference)
Note: We will approximate the angles later, so we keep the trigonometric ratios as it is.
U = − L sec θ − L sec θ R 2 k q 2 ( L sec θ R ) + m g L ( 1 − cos θ )
Now,
d
θ
d
U
=
τ
n
e
t
Differentiating the Energy equation,
d θ d U = ( L 2 sec 2 θ − R 2 ) 2 k q 2 R ( 2 L 2 sec 2 θ tan θ ) + m g L sin θ
Approximating,
sec
θ
≈
1
tan
θ
≈
sin
θ
≈
θ
We get,
τ n e t = ( ( L 2 − R 2 ) 2 2 k q 2 R L + m g ) L θ
Proceeding now by equating this to I α , we can solve the problem.
Log in to reply
@Anish Puthuraya – That's almost what I did but mind you that the potential energy of Coulombic attraction is just the half of what you wrote. Look here for the explanation: http://physicspages.com/2011/12/12/method-of-images-point-charge-and-sphere/
This is present in Griffiths, not sure about the Purcell though.
Log in to reply
@Pranav Arora – Yes this is why I was a bit unsure of the energy method. But, thanks Anish and Pranav for your replies.
small typing mistake while taking torques multiplication by L
On a side note, can you please post a solution to this: Pulling a long molecule
Thanks!
Nice solution. I did it almost the same way but messed up in the 2 θ part arriving it in a rather complicated manner.
did we find the value of Q by finding potential due to all at the sphere surface and then equating it to 0 (as it is grounded at that point)? If so, I am having a different answer.
Log in to reply
Rest, method is same. I also appreciate the problem :)
Could you explain how to find inducted charge. I know the fact that potential is same for all points on sphere, but i get hard equation systems by just using that.
Ya exactly this was the most apparent way of solving it.I too did it in the same way.We should be happy.intact this was one of the problems in IPHO 2009-10(most probably).
Problem Loading...
Note Loading...
Set Loading...
alt text
Let us displace the sphere by an angle θ
Note that when the displacement is small, the distance of the center of the sphere from the point charge q is almost L
Now,
The trick here is to use Method of Images to find the induced charge on the grounded sphere.
It is pretty straightforward to prove that the induced charge has a magnitude of Q = − L R q and is located at a distance d = L R 2 from the center of the sphere.
Thus,
The Force of attraction between the grounded sphere and q is along the line joining the center and q .
F = ( L − d ) 2 k q Q
F = ( L − L R 2 ) 2 k q ( L R q )
Considering the torque about the suspension point, (also use sin θ ≈ θ )
τ n e t = F ( 2 θ ) L + m g ( θ ) L
Also, the moment of Inertia about the suspension point is,
I n e t = m L 2 + 5 2 m R 2
Hence, using τ = I α , we get,
( ( L 2 − R 2 ) 2 2 k q 2 R L + m g ) θ = ( m L 2 + 5 2 m R 2 ) α
Substituting the values, we get,
α = ( 2 9 . 4 5 4 5 ) θ
Since α = w 2 θ , we get,
w = 2 9 . 4 5 4 5
Therefore, the Time Period of small oscillations is,
T = w 2 π = 2 9 . 4 5 4 5 2 π ≈ 1 . 1 5 8 s e c