+ charged sphere and - charged sphere touch and separate

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on the electrostatic interaction between two metal spheres, X and Y, after they touch and separate. Sphere X loses 500 electrons, resulting in a charge of +500e, while Sphere Y gains 1000 electrons, resulting in a charge of -1000e. Upon contact, electrons transfer from Sphere Y to Sphere X until both spheres reach an equilibrium charge of -250e. The final charge on each sphere after separation is confirmed to be -250e.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of basic electrostatics principles
  • Knowledge of electron charge (-e)
  • Familiarity with charge conservation laws
  • Concept of charge equilibrium in conductive materials
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the principles of charge conservation in electrostatics
  • Learn about the behavior of conductors in electrostatic equilibrium
  • Explore the concept of electron transfer and its implications in circuits
  • Investigate the effects of different materials on charge distribution
USEFUL FOR

Students studying physics, particularly those focusing on electrostatics, as well as educators looking for illustrative examples of charge interactions between conductive materials.

Soniteflash
Messages
36
Reaction score
1

Homework Statement


A small metal sphere X is charged by losing 500 electrons. An identical metal sphere Y is charged by gaining 1000 electrons. The two spheres are first put in contact with each other and then separated. If -e is the charge on an electron, what is the charge on each sphere after separation?

Sphere X Sphere Y
A +500 +500
B +250 +250
C -250 +250
D -250 -250
E -500 -500​

Homework Equations


n/a ?

The Attempt at a Solution


I think the answer is D.
Since the metal spheres touch each other electrons will be transferred from sphere Y to sphere X so that both have the same charge.
Is this correct? I
 
Physics news on Phys.org
If the unit of charge is e then I agree.
You mean to say that there are 250 electrons on each of the two spheres.
One electron is -e, so 250 electrons is -250e

If the exercise is literally as you present it, the formulation is a bit unfortunate, but that's not your problem :wink:
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Soniteflash
BvU said:
If the unit of charge is e then I agree.
You mean to say that there are 250 electrons on each of the two spheres.
One electron is -e, so 250 electrons is -250e

If the exercise is literally as you present it, the formulation is a bit unfortunate, but that's not your problem :wink:
Thanks. I need to get better at my formulation anyways...
 

Similar threads

Electric field external to Conducting Hollow Sphere with charge inside
  • · Replies 23 ·
Replies
23
Views
4K
Charge on two spheres related to Earthing
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
2K
Determine the net charge of sphere C
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Charge rearrangement on conducting spheres
  • · Replies 21 ·
Replies
21
Views
5K
Understanding the Interaction Between a Charged Rod and a Metal Sphere
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
Investigating the Charge Distribution on a Bulging Sphere
  • · Replies 18 ·
Replies
18
Views
3K
How to Rank Charge Density of Conductive Spheres?
  • · Replies 61 ·
3
Replies
61
Views
5K
Electric field problem — Changing the charge on two spheres
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Rank charges in spheres (Physics 2)
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
Calculating how many surplus electrons on each sphere
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
7K