Coulomb's Law and silver spheres

In summary, to calculate the fraction of electrons that must be transferred between two small silver spheres with a mass of 12.0 g each, separated by 1.00 m, in order to produce an attractive force of 3.00e4 N, you will use Coulomb's Law. By finding the necessary charge magnitude using this law, you can determine the number of electrons needed to create the desired force. This number will represent the fraction of the total number of electrons that must be transferred between the spheres.
  • #1
cmilho10
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Two small silver spheres, each with a mass of 12.0 g, are separated by 1.00 m. Calculate the fraction of the electrons in one sphere that must be transferred to the other to produce an attractive force of 3.00e4 N (about 3 tons) between the spheres. (The number of electrons per atom of silver is 47, and the number of atoms per gram is Avogadro's number divided by the molar mass of silver, 107.87 g/mol.)

Any help would be appreciated...i'm so confused with this material right now:frown:

I'm guessing you will use coulombs law of course (F=k[q1q2/r^2])
 
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  • #2
With the information at hand, you can calculate how many electrons there actually are in each sphere. Also, as it is, both sphere are neutral: in each self respecting silver atoms, there are as many protons as there are electrons, making the total charge on each sphere 0 C. And you also know the distance btw the spheres:1.0m. So, using Coulomb law, find what charge magnitude q is necessary to create an attrative force of 3.00e4 N btw two charges a separated by 1.0m. To how many electrons does that charge correspond? That is the amount of electrons you must transfer from one sphere to the other. Finally, what fraction of the total number of electron does that represent?
 
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1. What is Coulomb's Law?

Coulomb's Law is a fundamental law of electrostatics that describes the force between two charged particles. It states that the force between two charged particles is directly proportional to the product of their charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.

2. How is Coulomb's Law related to silver spheres?

Coulomb's Law can be applied to any charged particles, including silver spheres. The force between two silver spheres is determined by the charges on the spheres and the distance between them, according to the equation F = (k*q1*q2)/r2, where k is the Coulomb's constant, q1 and q2 are the charges on the spheres, and r is the distance between them.

3. How do silver spheres become charged?

Silver spheres can become charged through a process called triboelectric charging. This occurs when two materials come into contact and then separate, causing a transfer of electrons between them. In this process, one material gains electrons and becomes negatively charged, while the other loses electrons and becomes positively charged.

4. Can Coulomb's Law be used to calculate the force between non-point charges?

Yes, Coulomb's Law can be used to calculate the force between any two charged objects, regardless of their size or shape. However, for non-point charges, the distance between the charges must be small compared to the size of the objects in order for the law to accurately calculate the force.

5. What is the significance of silver spheres in Coulomb's Law?

Silver spheres are often used in experiments to demonstrate the principles of Coulomb's Law. This is because they are good conductors of electricity and can easily be charged and manipulated in a controlled setting. Their spherical shape also allows for a more simplified calculation of the force between them, making them a useful tool in understanding this fundamental law of electrostatics.

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