# Microcoulombs Question

1. Apr 14, 2009

### Procrastinate

Ok, the question is:

A, B and C are three small insulated conductors all carrying positive charges of equal size. A exerts a force of 2.5micronewtons on B. The distance between A and B is 2$$\sqrt{3}cm$$ and the distance between B and C is 2cm. What is the magnitude of the force exerted by B on C?

I know how to do all of it, since all the charges are the same, I've worked out the charge of A, B and C to be 5.77x10^-9C (I've checked and re-checked again)

So then I worked out the force between B and C and I continually get 7.5x10^-4N. When converting this to micronewtons, it is 750micronewtons.

According to the textbook however, I am wrong and by two decimal points actually. Apparently, the answer is 7.5micronewtons.

I've checked time and time again, made sure that I converted the micronewtons to Newtons (SI units) when calculating and converting the cm to m in regard to SI units. I don't know what I've done wrong. Could someone please check for me, because the textbook is prone to errors sometimes.

Last edited: Apr 14, 2009
2. Apr 15, 2009

### rl.bhat

I got 7.5 micro newtons.