Charge on pith ball between two plates

In summary, the question asks to determine the charge on a pith ball given the mass of 40 grams, the applied potential difference of 480 V, and a plate separation of 6 cm. The attempt at a solution involved using the equations F=ma, E=F/q, and V=E/d, but the resulting answer was incorrect. The correct answer is 1.8x10^-8, and the error may have been due to using milligrams instead of grams for the mass.
  • #1
fizzicmaniac
1
0

Homework Statement



The mass of the ball is 40 milligrams, the applied potential difference is 480 V and the plate separation is 6 centimeters. If the string hangs at an angle of 20 degrees to the vertical, determine the charge on the pith ball.

Homework Equations


[/B]
F=ma
E=F/q
V=E/d

The Attempt at a Solution



This is my work shown to the end, although the answer is wrong I'm not sure what I missed, and any help would be greatly appreciated. The answer is supposed to be 1.8x10^-8, but I'm not sure how to get there.
http://imgur.com/a/sgRUX
eiUz7DD.png
 
Last edited by a moderator:
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  • #2
fizzicmaniac said:
V=E/d
Really?
 
  • #3
Also:
fizzicmaniac said:
The mass of the ball is 40 milligrams

upload_2016-12-17_6-6-53.png


Grams are not milligrams!
 

1. What is the charge on a pith ball between two plates?

The charge on a pith ball between two plates is determined by the electric field strength between the plates and the distance of the pith ball from the plates.

2. How is the charge on a pith ball affected by the distance between the plates?

The charge on a pith ball increases as the distance between the plates decreases. This is because the electric field strength between the plates increases as the distance decreases, causing the pith ball to become more highly charged.

3. What is the relationship between the charge on a pith ball and the voltage between the plates?

The charge on a pith ball is directly proportional to the voltage between the plates. This means that as the voltage increases, the charge on the pith ball also increases.

4. How does the material of the pith ball affect its charge between two plates?

The material of the pith ball does not have a significant effect on its charge between two plates. However, materials with higher levels of conductivity may allow for a higher charge on the pith ball.

5. Can the charge on a pith ball between two plates ever be zero?

Yes, the charge on a pith ball between two plates can be zero if the electric field strength between the plates is zero. This can occur if the plates are parallel and have the same charge, or if the pith ball is placed at the center of two plates with opposite charges.

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