Question

A small sphere with mass mcarries a positive chargeqand is attached to one end of a silk fiber of lengthL. The other end of the fiber is attached to a large vertical insulating sheet that has a positive surface charge densityσ.

a) Find the magnitude and direction of the electric force on the sphere
b) Show that when the sphere is in equilibrium, the fiber makes an angleθequal to arctan (qσ/2mgε0) with the vertical sheet.gis the acceleration due to gravity.

Answer 1

(a): The magnitude of the electric force on the small sphere =
`(q\sigma)/(2\epsilon_o).`

(b): Shown below.

Step-by-step explanation:

Given:

• m = mass of the small sphere.
• q = charge on the small sphere.
• L = length of the silk fiber.
• 
  `\sigma` = surface charge density of the large vertical insulating sheet.

(a):

When the dimensions of the sheet is much larger than the distance between the charge and the sheet, then, according to Gauss' law of electrostatics, the electric field experienced by the particle due to the sheet is given as:

`\rm E = (\sigma)/(2\epsilon_o).`

where,

`\epsilon_o` is the electrical permittivity of the free space.

The electric field at a point is defined as the amount of electric force experienced by a unit positive test charge, placed at that point. The magnitude electric field at a point and the magnitude of the electric force on a charge q placed at that point are related as:

`\rm F_e=qE.`

Thus, the magnitude of the electric force on the small sphere is given by

`\rm F_e = q* (\sigma )/(2\epsilon_o)=(q\sigma)/(2\epsilon_o).`

The sheet and the small sphere both are positively charged, therefore, the electric force between these two is repulsive, which means, the direction of the electric force on the sphere is away from the sheet along the line which is perepndicular to the sheet and joining the sphere.

(b):

When the sphere is in equilibrium, the tension in the fiber is given by the resultant of the weight of the sphere and the electric force experienced by it as shown in the figure attached below.

According to the fig.,

`\rm \tan \theta = (F_e)/(W).`

where,

• 
  `\rm F_e` = electric force on the sphere, acting along left.
• 
  `\rm W` = weight of the sphere, acting vertically downwards.

`\rm F_e = (q\sigma)/(2\epsilon_o)\\\\W=mg\\\\Therefore,\\\\\tan\theta = ((q\sigma)/(2\epsilon_o))/(mg)=(q\sigma)/(2mg\epsilon_o).\\\Rightarrow \theta=\tan^(-1)\left ( (q\sigma)/(2mg\epsilon_o)\right ) .`

g is the acceleration due to gravity.