Couple More Questions on Electrostatics

Fusilli_Jerry89

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
1) From the observation that there's an electrostatic attraction between object A and B, what's the most you can conclude about the electric charge on A and B?

2) A plastic sphere with a positive charge of 4.8E-19 C is held stationary in a gravitational field of strength 9.8m/s/s by an electric field of strength 1.2E5 N/C. What is the force of gravity of the sphere?

3)How did Benjamin Franklin define a negative charge?

4) Draw a diagram to show the lines of force around a small positive charge.

5) Point P is 3.0 cm away from a small object with a positive charge of magnitude 5.0 muC. What is the electric field strength at point P?
2. Relevant equations
F=QE
F=kQq/d^2


3. The attempt at a solution
1) One has to be positive and one has to be negative.

2) 1.2E5 N/C=Fg/4.8E-14 N
Fg=5.8E-14 N

3) He defined it as having more electrons than protons.

4)

5) QE=(kQq)/r^2
E=(kq)/r^2
E=[(9.0E9)(5.0E-6 C)]/(0.030m)^2
E= 5.0E7 N/C

berkeman

In the diagram, remember that the lines of the electric field (and hence the lines of force) originate on + charges and terminate on - charges. How would that change your drawing some?

Fusilli_Jerry89

you mean drawing the lines out of the positive charge?

berkeman

Maybe....

There would be two cases, with variations on those two cases, right? The first would be a simple diplole, where there are two equal charges spaced apart. What would the E field distribution (and therefore the force vector field) look like for that?

The second case is a positive charge embedded in an overall E field that is generated by something external (like a positive ion sitting between the plates of a capacitor). How would that change the E field diagram?