196k views
5 votes
A very small sphere with positive charge q=+9.00?C is released from rest at a point 1.60cmfrom a very long line of uniform linear charge density ?=+ 1.00?C/m .

What is the kinetic energy of the sphere when it is 4.20cm from the line of charge if the only force on it is the force exerted by the line of charge?
Express your answer with the appropriate units: K=

User Randrumree
by
7.8k points

1 Answer

7 votes

The force on the small sphere due to the electric field created by the line of charge is given by:

$F = \frac{kq\lambda}{r}$

where k is Coulomb's constant, q is the charge on the small sphere, λ is the linear charge density of the line of charge, and r is the distance between the sphere and the line of charge.

At the initial position, r = 1.60 cm = 0.0160 m, and at the final position, r = 4.20 cm = 0.0420 m.

The work done by this electric force on the sphere as it moves from the initial position to the final position is:

$W = \int_{r_i}^{r_f} F dr = \int_{0.0160m}^{0.0420m} \frac{kq\lambda}{r} dr = kq\lambda\ln\frac{r_f}{r_i}$

where ln is the natural logarithm.

The work done by the electric force is equal to the change in kinetic energy of the sphere, so we have:

$\frac{1}{2}mv_f^2 - \frac{1}{2}mv_i^2 = kq\lambda\ln\frac{r_f}{r_i}$

Since the sphere starts from rest, vi = 0. Solving for vf, we get:

$v_f = \sqrt{\frac{2kq\lambda}{m}\ln\frac{r_f}{r_i}}$

where m is the mass of the sphere. To find the kinetic energy, we use:

$K = \frac{1}{2}mv_f^2$

The mass of the sphere is not given, so we cannot calculate the kinetic energy.

User Chris Zheng
by
8.2k points

No related questions found