Solving the Mystery of the Electric Bird

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around calculating the electric force on a charged bird in a vertical electric field of 5000 N/C. The bird has a charge of 0.0001 C, leading to a straightforward calculation of the electric force using the formula F = E * q. Participants clarify that the force acts in the direction of the electric field, resulting in a force of 0.5 N upward. There is some initial confusion about using trigonometric methods, but it is ultimately deemed unnecessary for this problem. The focus remains on the direct relationship between electric field strength and charge to determine the force.
Lavas
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Homework Statement



A bird has gathered electrical charge of .0001C by rubbing against another bird(I have no idea why the bird is doing this but...) and it is flying to a certain point where there is a thunderstorm brewing and a vertical electrical field of 5000N/C. What is the electrical force on the bird.

Homework Equations


Pythagorean equation
law of sines


The Attempt at a Solution


find the length of the third side of the triangle and use law of sines to find the angle of the force but I'm not sure if this is what it is asking for.
 
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Hello Lavas,

I think you might be overthinking this one. If the charged bird is in a uniform electric field, then the electric force is simply the electric field strength times the charge (in the direction of the electric field).
 
so simply .5 in the upwards direction
 

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