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NewtonianAlch
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Homework Statement
A small object of mass m carries a charge q and is suspended by a thread between the vertical plates of a parallel-plate capacitor. The plate separation is d. If the thread makes an angle θ with the vertical, what is the potential difference between the plates? (Use m for the mass, g for the acceleration due to gravity, q for the charge, d for the plate separation, and theta for θ as necessary.)
Homework Equations
E = V/d
F = mg
F = Eq
The Attempt at a Solution
The net force is 0 since there is no acceleration in anyone direction, so the forces acting on the sphere would be equal to each other in magnitude and opposite.
Since the sphere of charge creates an angle with the vertical axis, mg would be equal to the tension (T)*cos θ, so mg = Tcosθ
At the same time there would be a force in the horizontal component due to attraction/repulsion from one of the plates, so that would be F = Eq = Tsinθ (because there is an electric field between the plates)
Whereby E = Tsinθ/q
Since E = V/d, V = Ed
Therefore V = Tsinθ/d
From the vertical component it can be seen that T = mg/cosθ
So now, V = mgsinθ/cosθd => V = mgtanθ/d
Is my reasoning and hence, answer, correct?