Calculate the Effective Spring Constant using Coulomb's Law

[jamba88]

Homework Statement

Consider a segment of a molecule of DNA that is a coil with an overall length of 2.1*10^-6 m. If the ends of the molecule become singly ionized (one end loosing a single electron and the other end gaining a single electron) the helical molecule acts like a spring and compresses by 1.08% of its original length. Determine the effective spring constant of the molecule.

Homework Equations

F(elec)= F(spring)
ke* [(Q1*Q2)/r]= k*(change in r)

The Attempt at a Solution

The DNA will have a charge of +e and one end and -e at the other end which we will plug in for our Q1 and Q2 values.

I'm particularly concerned if I calculated the radius and change in radius correctly:
Calculate change in r:
.0108*(2.1*10^-6 m)= 2.3*10^-8 m

Calculate r:
2.1*10^.6 m- 2.3*10^-8 m= 2.1 *10^-6 m
It seems fishy that my r is the same as my r initial.

Plug into equation: ke* [(Q1*Q2)/r]= k*(change in r)
8.99*10^9 Nm^2/C^2 *[(-1.60*10^-19C)*(+1.60*10^-19C)/ (2.1*10^-6 m)]= k*(2.1*10^-6 m)

k= -4.76*10^-15

 

[Redbelly98]

Homework Statement

Consider a segment of a molecule of DNA that is a coil with an overall length of 2.1*10^-6 m. If the ends of the molecule become singly ionized (one end loosing a single electron and the other end gaining a single electron) the helical molecule acts like a spring and compresses by 1.08% of its original length. Determine the effective spring constant of the molecule.

Homework Equations

F(elec)= F(spring)
ke* [(Q1*Q2)/r]= k*(change in r)

For the electrostatic force, it should be r² rather than r.

The Attempt at a Solution

The DNA will have a charge of +e and one end and -e at the other end which we will plug in for our Q1 and Q2 values.

I'm particularly concerned if I calculated the radius and change in radius correctly:
Calculate change in r:
.0108*(2.1*10^-6 m)= 2.3*10^-8 m

Calculate r:
2.1*10^.6 m- 2.3*10^-8 m= 2.1 *10^-6 m
It seems fishy that my r is the same as my r initial.

Note that r is known to about 5% accuracy, while the change in r is only about 1%. Or put another way, the 2.3*10^-8 would affect the 2nd decimal place of 2.1*10^-6, but we are only accurate to 1 decimal place there.

Plug into equation: ke* [(Q1*Q2)/r]= k*(change in r)
8.99*10^9 Nm^2/C^2 *[(-1.60*10^-19C)*(+1.60*10^-19C)/ (2.1*10^-6 m)]= k*(2.1*10^-6 m)

k= -4.76*10^-15

Couple of errors being made here. The r² I mentioned earlier. Also, shouldn't the change in r, 2.3*10^-8 m enter in here somewhere?