Final answer:
The electric potential near the surface of a 0.525 cm diameter plastic sphere with a uniformly distributed 41.0 pC charge is approximately 145.54 volts, calculated using Coulomb's constant and the formula for electric potential of a charged sphere.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question is about finding the electric potential near the surface of a charged plastic sphere used in a static electricity demonstration. The sphere has a diameter of 0.525 cm and a uniformly distributed charge of 41.0 pC (picocoulombs). To calculate the electric potential (V) near the surface of a sphere, we can use the formula:
V = k * Q / r,
where V is the electric potential, k is Coulomb's constant (approximately 8.99 x 109 N m2/C2), Q is the charge (in coulombs), and r is the radius of the sphere (in meters). In this case, the radius r is half the diameter, so r = 0.525 cm / 2 = 0.2625 cm = 0.002625 meters. Converting 41.0 pC to coulombs gives us 41.0 x 10-12 C. Plugging in the values:
V = (8.99 x 109 * 41.0 x 10-12) / 0.002625 = approximately 145.54 volts,
Therefore, the electric potential near the surface of the sphere is approximately 145.54 volts.