Ok, how should I go about this one?

  • Thread starter Thread starter matt85
  • Start date Start date
Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a physics problem involving a pendulum in a uniform electric field. The original poster presents a scenario where a small plastic ball is in equilibrium at a specific angle, seeking to determine the net charge on the ball.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the concept of equilibrium and the forces acting on the ball. The original poster expresses uncertainty about how to apply Coulomb's Law and set up the problem, while others suggest identifying all forces and analyzing components for equilibrium.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring the definitions and implications of equilibrium. Guidance has been offered regarding the need to analyze forces and set up equations, but no consensus or resolution has been reached yet.

Contextual Notes

The problem involves understanding the balance of forces in an electric field and the implications of equilibrium, with participants questioning the definitions and setup of the problem.

matt85
Messages
25
Reaction score
0
Pendulum

A small 12.00g plastic ball is suspended by a string in a uniform, horizontal electric field with a magnitude of 10^3 N/C. If the ball is in equilibrium when the string makes a 30 ° angle with the vertical, what is the net charge on the ball?

Q = _________ C

I know Coloumb's Law, and I assume I want to implement it here somehow, however I don't know where to begin on setting this one up.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Oh, and here is the visual.
 

Attachments

  • pic.gif
    pic.gif
    3.6 KB · Views: 660
The ball is in equilibrium. What does that tell you?
 
That there is no force acting on it?
 
No, that isn't exactly the definition of equilibrium.

Equilibrium is when there is no _net_ force acting on it.
 
matt85 said:
That there is no force acting on it?
That there's no net force acting on it. Or, in other words: The net force is zero.

Start by identifying all the forces acting on the ball, then set up the equations for equilibrium. (Analyze the x and y components separately.)
 

Similar threads

How Do You Calculate the Electric Charge on a Suspended Cork Ball?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
Finding Charge & Tension of a Suspended Cork Ball
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
4K
Capacitors, equipotentials, and electric fields
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
1K
Finding the tension in the thread
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
Tangential Acceleration Problem, UCM
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
Foucault Pendulum at the North Pole
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
3K
To what extent does this system behave as a pendulum?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
Magnitude of charge on parallel plates
  • · Replies 20 ·
Replies
20
Views
4K
Seemingly a related rates problem
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
2K
Finding Angle of String with Two Charged Balls
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K