crowdedscience
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Homework Statement
Two very small metal coated foam spheres, each of mass 2.80x10^-6kg, are attached to nylon threads 45cm long and hung from a common point. When the spheres are given equal quantities of negative charge, each supporting thread makes an angle of 15 degrees with the vertical. Find the charge on each sphere.
Homework Equations
F=(kQ1Q2)/r^2 in the form of Q=√((Fr^2)/k) as Q1 and Q2 will be the same.
F=ma
probably Pythagoras and sine/tangent/cosine ratios
The Attempt at a Solution
ok, so r or the distance between the charges was pretty obvious. If the strings are 0.45m long and the angle at the point where the strings combine is 30° (2x15°), then its going to be an equilateral triangle so r=0.45m (I think). I suppose we are assuming k=9X10^9. Noe for the force. The force of gravity will be 2.80x10^-6x9.8 (F=ma), which equals approximately 2.7x10^-7. I then did (2.7x10^-7)/tan(90-15), which equals about 7.4x10^-8. I thought that equaled half the force of repulsion of the sphere, but I'm not sure. If that's right then the total force of repulsion is 1.5x10^-7. So then
Q=√((1.5X10^-7x0.45^2)/9x10^9). That equaled 1.8X10^-9. But the actual answer is 6.66X10^-9. I know my rounding is having quite and effect on it, so i did it again, using as many decimals as I could but I was still quite a bit off. What am I doing wrong?