Calculating Tension Forces on Charged Balls Suspended by Strings

[Cglez1280]

Homework Statement

Two identical balls (B and C) with a mass of .5 g are suspended from two strings as shown above. The balls carry equal charges +10nC each and are separated by a distance of 4 cm.
A. Draw the free-body diagram and show all forces applied to ball C.
B. Find the tension force in the string BC.
C. Draw free-body diagram and show all forces applied on ball B
D. Find the tension force in string AB
E. Answer question a, b, c, d for the situation when the balls have equal but opposite charges (charge on B is positive and charge on C is negative).

Variables
Ball C mass= 0.5g=0.0005Kg
g=9.81
a=0m/s^2

Homework Equations

?

The Attempt at a Solution

Okay so i thought the regular force tension equation would work but it didnt. I used Ft=w+ma. Using the variables I put the variables in each one. I did Ft=0.0005kg*9.81m/s^2+0.0005kg*0m/s^2 and got 0.004905, but turns out that is not the correct answer. The answer I'm supposed to get is 0.00546 N and I don't know what to do. Also I'm not sure what would work.

My free body diagram, the first one is for Part A and the second one is for Part C.
https://www.physicsforums.com/attachments/105387 https://www.physicsforums.com/attachments/105388
https://www.physicsforums.com/attachments/free-body-diagram-one-png.105387/ https://www.physicsforums.com/attachments/free-body-diagram-two-png.105388/
[Moderator's edit note: Images retrieved from member's repeat post of this problem]

 

[David Lewis]

Can you draw the free-body diagram?

 

[Cglez1280]

Can you draw the free-body diagram?

Yes I already drew it.

 

[SammyS]

Yes I already drew it.

We can't see it .

 

[Cglez1280]

We can't see it .

Don't mind the things above my drawing

 

[SammyS]

Don't mind the things above my drawing

@berkeman has already told you that it's nearly impossible to see content of your posted images. This one is no better.

Also, it's quite confusing when you use the same title on more than one thread.

 

[Cglez1280]

@berkeman has already told you that it's nearly impossible to see content of your posted images. This one is no better.

Also, it's quite confusing when you use the same title on more than one thread.

I'm sorry. I'm just new to this website and I'm looking for help. But, what's a better way of showing my free body diagram?

 

[SammyS]

I'm sorry. I'm just new to this website and I'm looking for help. But, what's a better way of showing my free body diagram?

Take better pictures. Use some image enhancement app.

Learn to type equation and math symbols directly to this site.

 

[gneill]

I'm sorry. I'm just new to this website and I'm looking for help. But, what's a better way of showing my free body diagram?

Hi Cglez1280,

You might try a drawing program such as MS Paint or Visio or something similar to produce basic diagrams. That or find a way to make your camera images more clear; Lighting and focus can be problematical for phone cameras and they are not often very good for close-ups of handwriting.

Personally I use Visio to create most diagrams that I need to post. Occasionally I'll capture an image by downloading and saving it, or 'cutting' it with a screen "snipping tool", and then I'll use use Visio or Paint to modify it.

Whatever you choose it's in your best interest to make it as easy as possible for helpers to read your content; Volunteers are under no obligation to spend time deciphering offerings, and they may well just move on to a thread which is easier to deal with.

 

[David Lewis]

You may find it easier if the free-body diagram shows both balls (ball B and ball C). Each ball will have three forces acting on it. Also, be sure to label and dimension the strings.

Note that this is a static analysis -- nothing is moving.

 

[CWatters]

The problem is the fbd doesn't appear to show all the forces acting on the balls. One force has been missed despite the title of this thread.