What is the Electric Force in Equilibrium?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the electric force between two charged conducting spheres placed a distance apart. One sphere has a positive charge, while the other has a negative charge. The problem also involves determining the electric force after the spheres are connected by a conducting wire and reach equilibrium.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Conceptual clarification

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the calculation of the electric force using Coulomb's law and question the resulting charge after the spheres are connected. There is exploration of how the total charge is conserved and how it is distributed between the spheres.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the problem, questioning the assumptions about charge distribution and the implications of equilibrium. Some guidance has been offered regarding the conservation of charge, but there is no explicit consensus on the final approach to calculating the forces.

Contextual Notes

There is a focus on the charges of the spheres and their interaction, with participants noting the need to consider how the charges are shared once equilibrium is reached. The discussion reflects uncertainty about the implications of connecting the spheres with a wire and the resulting charge distribution.

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Homework Statement


Two identical conducting small spheres are placed with their centers .300 m apart. One is given a charge of 12.0 nC and the other is given a charge of -18.0nC. a) Find the electric foce exterted on one sphere by the other. B) the sphers are connected by a conducing wire. Find the electric force between the two after they have come to equilibrium.



Homework Equations


F=(((q1)(q2))/r^2)(8.99 x 10^9 N M^2/c^2)



The Attempt at a Solution


I used the above equation to calculate the charge to be -2.1576 x 10^5 N. for problem A. For B, I am curious if I'm simplyfying to much, but since there is equilibrium would the resulting charge be zero?

Thank you for the help!
 
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The resultant charge is the sum of the original charges. What is it?
 
-6.0 nC because there is still a disproportionate number of electrons within the system? Is it found by adding the two forces together?
 
Last edited:
It's -6.0 nC because one sphere had +12 and the other had -18. The total charge of the system must be conserved.

You need to figure out how this charge is divided between the two spheres, though.
 
Is it an even -3.0nC charge in each sphere because the spheres and the connecting wire are both conductive so the electrons are equally spaced?

Then using the -3.0nC in the original formula as both q1 and q2 to calculate the new repulsive force?
 

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