Final answer:
To determine the charge on each identical metal sphere after they are brought into contact and separated, add the individual charges and divide by two. To find the number of electrons corresponding to this charge, divide by the charge of an electron. The resulting number of electrons would be equivalent to the charge on each sphere.
Step-by-step explanation:
When considering the charge distribution between two identical metal spheres, we know that upon contact, charges will redistribute evenly across both spheres. For Sphere 1 with a charge of -9.6 × 10^-18 C and Sphere 2 with either 30, 60 excess electrons, or 60 excess protons, we use the charge of an electron, which is approximately -1.6 × 10^-19 C.
Firstly, calculate the total charge by adding the charges of both spheres. Then, divide the total charge by two to find the charge on each sphere after they are separated. To find the number of electrons equivalent to the charge, divide the charge on each sphere by the charge of an electron (-1.6 × 10^-19 C).
For example, with Sphere 1's -9.6 × 10-18 C and Sphere 2's 30 excess electrons totaling -4.8 × 10-18 C from the electrons (30 x -1.6 × 10-^19 C each), the total charge would be -14.4 × 10-18 C. After contact and separation, each sphere would have -7.2 × 10^-18 C, corresponding to 45 excess electrons per sphere (-7.2 × 10-^18 C ÷ -1.6 × 10^-19C/electron).