This one has bothered me for a while (electric field)

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around calculating the charge on a larger sphere (B) influenced by a smaller charged sphere (A) using principles of equilibrium and electric fields. Sphere B is suspended at an angle due to the electric force exerted by sphere A, which has a known charge of 120 microCoulombs. Participants suggest using force analysis, focusing on the equilibrium conditions where the sum of forces in both the x and y directions equals zero. The tension in the thread supporting sphere B is crucial for determining the electric force acting on it, which can then be related back to the charge on sphere B. The mass and radius of sphere B are noted as potentially relevant but their specific roles in the calculations remain unclear.
qz27
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basically i have a small charged sphere on the left, and at a certain horizontal distance away from it there's a bigger sphere that is made of a thin shell of nonconducting material. the bigger sphere (B) is hanging from a non conducting, uncharged thread, and that thread makes an angle of 20 degrees with the vertical when sphere B is in equilibrium. centers of the sphere are at the same vertical height and are 1.5m away from each other.

the small sphere(A) has a charge of 120microCoulumns, and the larger sphere has radius of .05m and mass of .025kg

what is the charge on sphere B?
now i think if i set up an equation where the potential energy of sphere B ( since the thread hanging it is not vertical, B has a vertical displacement caused by the electric field b/t the two spheres) is equal to the electric field generated by the two spheres, i can figure out the charge on B. but i wasnt given the length of the thread, so that prevent me from getting the vertical displacement of sphere B.

but i wonder why the mass and radius of the sphere B was given tho..
any clue on where to tackle this problem?
 
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I don't understand your method...

I'd just use forces... what are all the forces acting on the bigger sphere... The sphere is in equilibrium... so sum of forces in the x direction is 0... and sum of forces in the y-direction is 0. From that you can get the electrical force that the smaller charge exerts on the bigger... and from that you can get the charge.
 
well, the force acting on the bigger sphere is just the repulsion force between the two spheres, but how can i find the electric field between them when i only know the charge of the smaller sphere?
 
qz27 said:
well, the force acting on the bigger sphere is just the repulsion force between the two spheres, but how can i find the electric field between them when i only know the charge of the smaller sphere?

First find the tension in the cable... use sum of forces in the vertical direction.
 
qz27 said:
well, the force acting on the bigger sphere is just the repulsion force between the two spheres
That does not account for ALL forces of sphere B.
 

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