Question

Grain is pouring into a silo to be stored for later use. Due to the friction between pieces of grain as they rub against each other during the pouring process, one piece of grain picks up a charge of 6.0 E -10 C and another piece of grain picks up a charge of 2.3 E -15 C. What is the electric force between them if the pieces of grain are 2 cm apart?

I know the equation already: in the image below. Can someone show me how to place the information I have into this equation, and how to solve it?

Answer 1

3.11×10¯¹¹ N

Step-by-step explanation:

From the question given above, the following data were obtained:

Charge 1 (q₁) = 6×10¯¹⁰ C

Charge 2 (q₂) = 2.3×10¯¹⁵ C

Distance apart (d) = 2 cm

Force (F) =?

Next, we shall convert 2 cm to metre (m). This can be obtained as follow:

100 cm = 1 m

Therefore,

2 cm = 2 cm × 1 m / 100 cm

2 cm = 0.02 m

Thus, 2 cm is equivalent to 0.02 m

Finally, we shall determine the electrical force between the two charge as follow:

Charge 1 (q₁) = 6×10¯¹⁰ C

Charge 2 (q₂) = 2.3×10¯¹⁵ C

Distance apart (d) = 0.02 m

Coulomb constant (K) = 9×10⁹ Nm²C¯²

Force (F) =?

F = Kq₁q₂ / d²

F = 9×10⁹ × 6×10¯¹⁰ × 2.3×10¯¹⁵ / 0.02²

F = 1.242×10¯¹⁴ / 0.0004

F = 3.11×10¯¹¹ N

Therefore, the electrical force between the two charge is 3.11×10¯¹¹ N