Is 2.6x10^9C a Plausible Answer for a Pith Ball Electrostatics Problem?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Procrastinate
  • Start date Start date
AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on the plausibility of the answer 2.6x10^9C for a pith ball electrostatics problem, with the original poster calculating 2.6x10^-9C. Participants highlight that the answer of 2.6 billion coulombs is likely incorrect, as electrostatic answers typically do not exceed several millionths of a coulomb. The consensus suggests that the original poster's answer is more reasonable. The conversation emphasizes the importance of checking the magnitude of electrostatic values in such problems. Overall, the community agrees that the provided answer is likely a typo or error.
Procrastinate
Messages
155
Reaction score
0
A pith ball of mass 0.15mg is suspended off a massless string as shown below. The string is 30cm long.

PhysicsDIagram.jpg




Apparently the answer is 2.6x10^9C but I got 2.6x10^-9C.



I don't want a solution or anything, I just want to see whether their answer is correct or not and if whether anyone could verify that for me.


Thanks in advance.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
seems a typo, you're answer is right
 
Note the magnitude of the answer: 2.6 billionth of a coulomb. In electrostatics questions, any answer bigger than several millionths of a coulomb is almost certain to be wrong.
 
Thread 'Variable mass system : water sprayed into a moving container'

Thread 'Variable mass system : water sprayed into a moving container'

Starting with the mass considerations #m(t)# is mass of water #M_{c}# mass of container and #M(t)# mass of total system $$M(t) = M_{C} + m(t)$$ $$\Rightarrow \frac{dM(t)}{dt} = \frac{dm(t)}{dt}$$ $$P_i = Mv + u \, dm$$ $$P_f = (M + dm)(v + dv)$$ $$\Delta P = M \, dv + (v - u) \, dm$$ $$F = \frac{dP}{dt} = M \frac{dv}{dt} + (v - u) \frac{dm}{dt}$$ $$F = u \frac{dm}{dt} = \rho A u^2$$ from conservation of momentum , the cannon recoils with the same force which it applies. $$\quad \frac{dm}{dt}...
View full post »

Similar threads

How to find the mass of a pith ball using electric forces?
Replies
1
Views
3K
B Problems I Have With Electrostatics and Pith Ball Experiments
Replies
10
Views
4K
Hanging pith ball problem with unequal masses and charges
Replies
3
Views
6K
Projectile motion of tabletop ball?
Replies
12
Views
3K
Solving Collision and Kinetics Problems in 2D
Replies
1
Views
3K
Coulomb's Law and Final Angle of Dust Cobweb
Replies
1
Views
2K
What is the net charge of the ball?
Replies
3
Views
6K
Electrostatics Problem Solved: Wall Charge and Hanging Ball | Homework Help
Replies
3
Views
7K
Crazy Pulley Problem: Solve for Distance, Acceleration & Tension
Replies
4
Views
8K
Pulley system on an inclined plane with friction.
Replies
1
Views
7K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top