Two small insulating spheres with radius

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the electric field (E_1) at the midpoint between two insulating spheres with charges of -2.20 µC and +4.05 µC, separated by a distance of 0.510 m. The user correctly identifies that the electric field can be calculated using the formula E = Q / (4πε₀r²), treating the spheres as point charges. A key takeaway is the importance of converting microcoulombs to coulombs for accurate calculations, as failure to do so led to initial confusion regarding the results.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of electric fields and Coulomb's law
  • Familiarity with unit conversions, specifically microcoulombs to coulombs
  • Knowledge of the concept of point charges in electrostatics
  • Basic proficiency in algebra and physics equations
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the derivation and applications of Coulomb's law in electrostatics
  • Learn about the concept of electric field lines and their representation
  • Explore the effects of multiple charges on electric fields
  • Investigate the role of dielectric materials in electric field calculations
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for physics students, educators, and anyone interested in understanding electrostatics, particularly in calculating electric fields due to charged objects.

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Homework Statement



Two small insulating spheres with radius 5.50×10−2 m are separated by a large center-to-center distance of 0.510 m. One sphere is negatively charged, with net charge -2.20 \mu C, and the other sphere is positively charged, with net charge 4.05 \mu C. The charge is uniformly distributed within the volume of each sphere.

Calculate E_1, the magnitude of the electric field at the midway point due to the sphere with charge -2.20 \mu C only.

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


I tried to use q/4pi(espolon not)r^2 but I am not sure my radius is right because I have used half the distance for the distance and the radius of the sphere for the distance.
 
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E(sphere) = Q/ 4pi(distance)^2
Notice that this the same as a point charge. You do not need to worry about the radius of the sphere for this part of the question.
 
thanks

my problem was that I wasn't changing my units from micro coulombs to coulombs.
 

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