Question

Two identical conducting spheres are placed 80.0 cm apart. One is given a charge of 5.8 C and the other is given a charge of 6.4 C. Find the electric force exerted on one sphere by the other.

Answer 1

Answer:
`5.214(10)^(11) N`

Step-by-step explanation:

According to Coulomb's Law:

"The electrostatic force
`F_(E)` between two point charges
`q_(1)` and
`q_(2)` is proportional to the product of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance
`d` that separates them, and has the direction of the line that joins them".

Mathematically this law is written as:

`F_(E)=K(q_(1).q_(2))/(d^(2))`

Where:

`F_(E)` is the electrostatic force

`K=8.99(10)^(9) Nm^(2)/C^(2)` is the Coulomb's constant

`q_(1)=5.8 C` and
`q_(2)=6.4 C` are the electric charges

`d=80 cm (1 m)/(100 cm)=0.8 m` is the separation distance between the charges

Solving:

`F_(E)=8.99(10)^(9) Nm^(2)/C^(2)((5.8 C)(6.4 C))/((0.8 m)^(2))`

`F_(E)=5.214(10)^(11) N`