Electric Field's Force on a Suspended Plastic Ball

AI Thread Summary
A user seeks help with a physics problem involving a suspended plastic ball in an electric field. The ball has a charge of 8 µC and is in equilibrium, prompting questions about calculating the tension force and the angle of the string. Forum members emphasize the importance of showing work, including a free body diagram, and correcting the charge value to 0.8 µC for accurate calculations. A suggestion is made to use the equation tan θ = qE/mg for finding the angle. The discussion highlights the need for clarity in vector and scalar equations to avoid mistakes.
EsinDerin
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Homework Statement
A small, 4.0-g plastic ball with charge Q=8uC,is suspended by a
cm-long string in a uniform electric field ⃗ E=9.8x10^2 in figure. If the ball is in equilibrium, Find
a) the tension force in the string
b) the angle between vertical axis and string.
Relevant Equations
E=k*q/r^2
k=1/4Eopi
Hi,I couldn't do this problem.I hope someone could help meths is my first time in this forum
 
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You need to show us how much you can do. You must have some idea how to solve this?
 
Welcome to the PF. :smile:
EsinDerin said:
Homework Statement:: A small, 4.0-g plastic ball with charge Q=8uC,is suspended by a
cm-long string in a uniform electric field ⃗ E=9.8x10^2 in figure. If the ball is in equilibrium, Find
a) the tension force in the string
b) the angle between vertical axis and string.
Relevant Equations:: E=k*q/r^2
k=1/4Eopi

Hi,I couldn't do this problem.I hope someone could help meths is my first time in this forum
In addition to showing your work, please try again to attach the diagram of the problem. How many cm long is the string?
 
This is the question
 

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Ah, that helps. Okay, please show us your free body diagram (FBD) for the plastic ball, and write the equation for the force of the electric field on a charged body (it is similar to the equation you wrote for the electric field from a charged particle above). Please show us your work. Thanks.
 
IMG_1907.jpg

I'm not sure about the solution.If there is any mistake,please show it.Thanks :)
 
EsinDerin said:
View attachment 260181
I'm not sure about the solution.If there is any mistake,please show it.Thanks :)
It all looked good until you came to the calculation. Why didn't you do:
$$\tan \theta = \frac{qE}{mg}$$
You made a mistake writing down the charge, which is ##0.8 \mu C##.

One minor point is that you shouldn't mix vectors like ##\vec{F_e}## and scalars like ##T_x## in the same equation.
 
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Ok,are the answers are correct,I would be happy if you answer
 
EsinDerin said:
Ok,are the answers are correct,I would be happy if you answer
It's wrong because you used the wrong charge.
 
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