Tension on a string and charge -

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves two objects, one with mass and the other with an electric charge, interacting through electrostatic forces while in equilibrium. The mass hangs from a thread at an angle due to the attraction from the charged object nearby.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to analyze the forces acting on the mass, considering both gravitational and electrostatic forces. They express confusion about calculating the charge on the mass and the tension in the thread.
  • Some participants question the calculations related to the angle and the forces, providing corrections and alternative values for the forces involved.
  • Others suggest that the original poster's final charge value appears more reasonable after corrections, but they seek confirmation on their calculations.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants providing corrections and clarifications on the calculations. There is no explicit consensus on the final values, but some guidance has been offered regarding the calculations of forces and angles.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the constraints of the problem statement and are addressing potential errors in their calculations. There is an emphasis on ensuring the correct interpretation of angles and forces in the context of equilibrium.

thercias
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Homework Statement

Object A has mass 90.0 g and hangs from an insulated thread. When object B, which has a charge of +130 nC, is held nearby, A is attracted to it. In equilibrium, A hangs at an angle θ = 7.20° with respect to the vertical and is 5.00 cm to the left of B.
(a) What is the charge on A?
(b) What is the tension in the thread?

http://i694.photobucket.com/albums/vv301/redraven45/physics1_zps6759b55e.png



Homework Equations


F = ma
F = kq1q2/r^2


The Attempt at a Solution


Im pretty clueless on this one. I know it's some type of equilibrium question, and it looks like the forces on the x direction cancel out. To find the charge on A, I need the force between the two charges but I don't have that and I'm not sure if I'm doing this right.

The only force on the string in the y direction is from gravity so

Fy = 0.09*9.8
=0.882N
The only force pulling the string in the x direction is the force between charge A and charge B
tantheta = Fx/Fy
Fx = tantheta*Fy
= tan7.2*0.882
= 1.15N

This equals to the force between the two charges, so

1.15 = k(qA)(qB)/(r^2)
(qA) = 1.15 *0.05^2/ (8.85e-12)(130e-9)
(qA) = 2.49e15

this value doesn't make much sense. not sure what to do.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
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The angle is in degrees not in radians:

##\tan 7.2^o=0.126\Rightarrow F_x=0.111\,N##

and ##k=9\cdot 10^9\,N\cdot m^2/C^2##
 
szynkasz said:
The angle is in degrees not in radians:

##\tan 7.2^o=0.126\Rightarrow F_x=0.111\,N##

and ##k=9\cdot 10^9\,N\cdot m^2/C^2##

thanks for the correction, my final answer for the charge is now 237 nC. That seems a lot better

Also, the force of tension I got was sqrt((0.0882^2)+(0.111^2))= 0.122N

Can you confirm that these are correct?
 
The charge is ok, but ##F_y=0.882\,N## not ##0.0882##
 
Thanks man, just got to pay more attention to these clumsy errors I guess.
 

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