Calculating the Radius of a Charged Spherical Water Drop

In summary, the conversation was about calculating the radius of a spherical drop of water with a charge of 3×10^-9 C and a potential of 500V on its surface, as well as determining the potential at the surface of a new drop formed by combining two drops with the same charge and radius. A typo in the textbook led to an incorrect calculation of the radius in the attempted solution. Part (b) of the problem was going well.
  • #1
gracy
2,486
83

Homework Statement


A spherical drop of water carrying a charge of 3×10^-19 has a potential of 500V at its surface (with V=0 at infinity) (a) What is the radius of the drop? If two such drops of the same charge and radius combined to form a single drop, what is the potential at the surface of the new drop

Homework Equations


##V##=##\frac{q}{4πε0r}##

The Attempt at a Solution


Here q=3×10^-19 C and V=500 volts.
##r##=##\frac{3×10^-19×9×10^9}{500}##
=##\frac{27×10^-10}{5×10^2}##
=##\frac{27×10^-10×10^-2}{5}##
=##\frac{27×10^-12}{5}##
=5.4×10^-12
but the answer for r is wrong it should be r=0.54cm.What went wrong .
 
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  • #2
Typo (or hasty reading :rolleyes:) : 3 x 10 -19 should have been 3 x 10 -9.

For comparison: 1 single electron has a charge -1.60217662 × 10-19 Coulomb
 
  • #3
Your rolling eyes!
BvU said:
Typo (or hasty reading
Neither of them.Actually it is
:
:
:
:
:
:
Printing mistake in the textbook.:smile:
 
  • #4
That's what we call a typo :biggrin: . The printer prints what has been typeset
 
  • #5
BvU said:
Typo (or hasty reading
gracy said:
in the textbook
I just wanted to make sure that's not my mistake :rolleyes:
 
  • #6
Part (b) is going OK ?
 
  • #7
BvU said:
Part (b) is going OK ?
Yes!:smile:
seriously, loved the way you paid attention to my all the threads today.
 

1. What is the formula for calculating radius?

The formula for calculating radius is r = d/2, where r is the radius and d is the diameter.

2. How do you calculate the radius of a circle with a given circumference?

The formula for calculating the radius of a circle with a given circumference is r = c/2π, where r is the radius and c is the circumference.

3. Can you calculate the radius of a circle with only the area?

Yes, the formula for calculating the radius of a circle with only the area is r = √(A/π), where r is the radius and A is the area.

4. Is it possible to calculate the radius of a sphere with its volume?

Yes, the formula for calculating the radius of a sphere with its volume is r = ∛(3V/4π), where r is the radius and V is the volume.

5. How do you calculate the radius of a cylinder with its lateral surface area and height?

The formula for calculating the radius of a cylinder with its lateral surface area and height is r = √(A/2πh), where r is the radius, A is the lateral surface area, and h is the height.

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