Final answer:
When two metal spheres with different charges come into contact, the total charge is equally distributed between them. The resulting charge per sphere can be calculated by dividing the total charge by two, and the number of excess electrons can be found by dividing this charge by the charge of one electron.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question presented involves the concept of electric charge and its distribution among conducting spheres in contact, a topic typically addressed in high school physics. When two differently charged metal spheres are brought into contact and then separated, the total charge is equally divided between the two spheres. The charge of an electron is approximately -1.602 × 10-19 coulombs. Therefore, by dividing the final charge on one of the spheres by the charge of an electron, we can determine the number of excess electrons corresponding to that charge.
For instance, if sphere 1 initially has a charge of -4.8 × 10-18 coulombs (which represents 30 excess electrons, as each electron contributes -1.602 × 10-19 coulombs) and sphere 2 has 60 excess electrons, we first calculate the total excess electrons by adding 30 (from sphere 1) and 60 (from sphere 2) to get 90 excess electrons. When the two spheres are brought into contact and then separated, these 90 excess electrons are evenly split, giving each sphere 45 excess electrons. This would result in each sphere having an equivalent charge of -7.209 × 10-18 coulombs (45 electrons times -1.602 × 10-19 coulombs per electron).