Question

Calculate the electric field strength required to just support an oil drop of mass

10 -2 kg and having a charge 3.2 x 10 -19 C.

Answer 1

`E= 3.06 * 10^(-17) N/C`

Step-by-step explanation:

As we know that the oil drop experiment tells us the balancing the gravitational force by electrostatic force.

So ,

Electrostatic force = Gravitational force

qE=mg

Here , q is charge , E is electric field , m is mass and g is gravity.

so,

`E=(mg)/(q)`

Insert values from question,

`E=(10^(-2)kg * 9.8 m/s^(2))/(3.2 * 10^(-19)C)`

or

`E= 3.06 * 10^(-17) N/C`

This is the required value of electric field.