Unraveling the Mystery of Electrostatic Force in Honeybees

[eMac]

Homework Statement

Measurements show that a honeybee in active flight can acquire an electrostatic charge on the order of 90.9 pC.
a)How many electrons much be transferred to produce this charge?
Ne =5.67*10^8

b) Supposing two bees, both with this charge, are separated by a distance of 14 cm. What is the magnitude of the electrostatic force between the these two bees? (You may treat the bees as point charges.)
FE= 4.0*10^-7 NO

Homework Equations

FE=k (q1) x (q2)/r2

k=8.99 x 10^9

90.9 pC = 9.09 * 10^-11 C

14 cm = .14 m

The Attempt at a Solution

I got part a but I can't get part b

I used Couloumb's equation and...

FE = k (9.09*10^-11)^2 / (.14)^2

and I got 4*10^-9 but it doesn't work where am i going wrong on this problem. Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[gneill]

In what way does 4*10^-9 "not work"?

Perhaps your significant digits are inadequate?

 

[eMac]

In what way does 4*10^-9 "not work"?

Perhaps your significant digits are inadequate?

I really don't know none of the answers I used worked out.

 

[Dickfore]

Do you know the correct answer?

 

[ehild]

Calculate the force with three significant digits. ehild

 

[eMac]

Calculate the force with three significant digits.


ehild

Thanks, it finally worked. I ended up having to use a graphing calc. to get to the significant digits. My scientific calc. was rounding, which is where my problem emerged. Thanks to everyone for the advice.