Ratio of Electric Force to Gravitational force

In summary, the conversation discusses the calculation of the ratio between the electric force of repulsion and the gravitational attraction between two protons. The equations used are F_{g}=\frac{Gm_{1}m_{2}}{r^2} and F_{e}=\frac{Kq_{1}q_{2}}{r^2}, and the values of K, G, proton mass, and proton charge are provided. The discrepancy in the final answer is attributed to a possible error in squaring the masses and charges.
  • #1
Winzer
598
0

Homework Statement


It is known that the electric force of repulsion between two protons is much stronger than their gravitational attraction. For two protons a distance R apart, calculate the ratio of the magnitude of the repulsion to that of the attraction.

Homework Equations


[tex] F_{g}=\frac{Gm_{1}m_{2}}{r^2}[/tex]
[tex] F_{e}=\frac{Kq_{1}q_{2}}{r^2}[/tex]

The Attempt at a Solution


So the ratio [tex]\frac{F_{e}}{F_{g}}[/tex] =[tex] \frac{Kq^2}{Gm^2}[/tex]
I get 1.3E28 which is wrong. Why?
 
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  • #2
The equation is right. Hard to tell where you are going wrong with putting the numbers in.
 
  • #3
K=9.0E9
G=6.67E-11
Mass of proton aprox. 1.672E-27
Charge of a proton 1.602E-19
Right?
 
  • #4
Fine. But looking at your number, I think you are forgetting to square the masses and charges.
 
  • #5
ok, i get 1.2E36 with 2 sig figs and still wrong.
 
  • #6
I get 1.2355E36. So I disagree with who or whatever is telling you it's wrong.
 

What is the ratio of electric force to gravitational force?

The ratio of electric force to gravitational force is determined by the value of the electric charge and the distance between the two objects. It is given by the equation Fe/Fg = kQ1Q2/r^2, where Fe is the electric force, Fg is the gravitational force, k is the Coulomb's constant, Q1 and Q2 are the charges of the two objects, and r is the distance between them.

How does the distance between two objects affect the ratio of electric force to gravitational force?

The ratio of electric force to gravitational force is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the two objects. This means that as the distance increases, the ratio decreases. This is because the electric force decreases faster with distance than the gravitational force.

What is the significance of the ratio of electric force to gravitational force?

The ratio of electric force to gravitational force is important in understanding the interactions between charged particles and massive objects. It helps to explain the behavior of particles in electric and gravitational fields and is essential in many fields of physics, including electromagnetism and astrophysics.

How does the value of electric charge affect the ratio of electric force to gravitational force?

The ratio of electric force to gravitational force is directly proportional to the product of the charges of the two objects. This means that as the value of the charges increases, the ratio also increases. This is because the electric force is much stronger than the gravitational force due to the large value of the Coulomb's constant.

What is the relationship between the ratio of electric force to gravitational force and the strength of the electric and gravitational fields?

The ratio of electric force to gravitational force is equal to the ratio of the strengths of the electric and gravitational fields. This means that the ratio can also be interpreted as a measure of the relative strength of the two fields. A higher ratio indicates a stronger electric field, while a lower ratio indicates a stronger gravitational field.

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