Question

Two charges q1 and q2 have a total charge of 11 C. When they are separated by 4.5 m, the force exerted by one charge on the other has a magnitude of 8 mN. Find q1 and q2 if both are positive so that they repel each other, and q1 is the smaller of the two. (For the universal constant k use the value 8.99 109 N m2/C2.)

Answer 1

`q_1 = 2\mu C`

`q_2 = 9 \mu C`

Step-by-step explanation:

As we know that

`q_1 + q_2 = 11 C`

also we know that

`F = (kq_1q_2)/(r^2)`

`8 * 10^(-3) = ((9 * 10^9)(q_1q_2))/(4.5^2)`

here we have

`1.8 * 10^(-11) = q_1 q_2`

so now we have

`1.8 * 10^(-11) = (11 - q_1) q_1`

so we will have

`q_1 = 2\mu C`

`q_2 = 9 \mu C`