Charges are magnificent!

Aboard a space station, where there is zero gravity, a metal sphere with a mass of 60 g 60 g is given a charge of 4 *10^-4, and placed in a uniform electric field with magnitude 300 N / C 300 N/C . The sphere is held in place, then released. How far will it travel in the fi rst 3 seconds after its release?


The answer is 9.

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5 solutions

Guillermo Angeris
Aug 31, 2014

We know that F = m a = q E F=ma=qE in the absence of Magnetic fields. Since we also know that a a is constant, then: Δ x = a t 2 2 = q E 2 m t 2 \Delta x=\frac{at^2}{2}=\frac{qE}{2m}t^2 Plugging in the values we receive our answer of 9 m 9\text{ m} (though I was very much confused by the 60 g 60g thinking it referred to, for some reason 60 g 60\cdot g instead of 60 60 grams ).

Lu Chee Ket
Nov 1, 2015

Gravitational force can also be expressed as N/ kg. Zero gravity is a notion to ignore negligible effect rather than an absolute zero gravity; the presence of gravity is not discrete but something with contrast of gradual change, which is a property of real things. As long as we are staying in a matter surrounding, there is strictly no zero gravity.

Here, electrostatic force is expressed as N/ C as a uniform field like gravity on earth.

F = (300 N/ C)(4 x 10^-4 C) = 0.12 N = (60/ 1000) a

a = 2 m/ s^2 => x = u t + (1/ 2) a t^2 = t^2 = 3^2 = 9

Answer: 9 meters

This is good, but needs to be reworded... it should say 4 e-4 C, for the sphere, and you should say to answer in meters.

Ekta Singh
Nov 14, 2014

since the sphere is charged (q) it will feel a force in the presence of electric field E i.e. F=q E, and if there is force there should be acceleration (a) given by a= q E/m

now use Newton's second law of motion i.e. s= 0.5 a t^2 (since, u=0 here) to get the required distance it will move in 3 sec.

Yo Baba
Aug 31, 2014

The metal sphere is given a charge q=4 x 10^-4 C ( We can assume it to be a point charge placed on the center of the sphere ) and it is left in an electric field with magnitude 300N/C. as the metal sphere has some charge, it will experience a force when left in an electric field. the force that it experiences is given by F=qE where q is the charge of the sphere and E is the electric field. so it's acceleration will be F/m=qE/m which comes out to be 2m/s^2. Next, applying the kinematical equation s=ut + (at^2)/2 here the initial velocity(u) is 0. so, s=(at^2)/2 and thus the displacement comes out to be 9m.

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