Question

An electric field of 3 x 10^26 V/m is needed to create a spark in the air. If the charged particles in the field are separated by a distance of 1 mm, how many coulombs of charge are needed for a spark? (Round to the nearest whole number.) The answer is 3.

Answer 1

To create a spark in the air with an electric field of 3 x 10^26 V/m and a distance between the charged particles of 1 mm, approximately 3 coulombs of charge are needed.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the required charge for a spark, we can use the formula Q = Ed, where Q is the charge, E is the electric field, and d is the distance between the charged particles. In this case, the electric field is given as 3 x 10^26 V/m and the distance is 1 mm (or 0.001 m). Plugging these values into the formula, we get Q = (3 x 10^26 V/m) * 0.001 m = 3 x 10^23 C. Rounding to the nearest whole number, we get 3 coulombs.