Chapter 18 Problems 251

CHAPTER18 ELECTRICFORCESAND
ELECTRICFIELDS

PROBLEMS
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1. REASONINGANDSOLUTIONThechargeonasingleelectronis 1.60 10 19 C .In

ordertogiveaneutralsilverdollarachargeof+2.4 C,wemustremoveanamountof
negativechargeequalto2.4 C.Thiscorrespondsto

2.4 106 C 1.60
1 electron
10 19 C
1.5 1013 electrons

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2. REASONINGANDSOLUTIONThetotalchargeoftheelectronsis

q=N(e)=(6.01013)(1.601019C)

q=9.6106C=9.6C

Thenetchargeonthesphereis,therefore,

qnet=+8.0C9.6C=1.6C
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3. REASONINGThelawofconservationofelectricchargesstatesthatthenetelectriccharge
ofanisolatedsystemremainsconstant.Initiallytheplaterodsystemhasanetchargeof3.0
C+2.0C=1.0C.Afterthetransferthischargeissharedequallybybothobjects,so
that each carries a charge of 0.50 C. Therefore, 2.5 C of negative charge must be
transferredfromtheplatetotherod. Todeterminehowmanyelectrons thisis,wewill
dividethischargemagnitudebythemagnitudeofthechargeonasingleelectron.

SOLUTION Themagnitudeofthechargeonanelectronis e,sothatthenumber N of

electronstransferredis

Magnitude of transferred charge 2.5 10 6 C

N 19
1.6 1013
e 1.60 10 C
252 ELECTRIC FORCES AND ELECTRIC FIELDS

4. REASONINGANDSOLUTIONObjectAisnegativebecauseofanexcessofelectrons,
whileobjectBispositivebecauseofadeficiencyofelectrons.Themassdifferencebetween
thechargedobjectsarisesbecausethemassofAisgreaterduetotheadditionalelectrons,
whilethemassofobjectBislessduetothelossofelectrons.Sinceq=Ne,whereeisthe
magnitudeofthechargeononeelectron,thenumberofexcesselectronsonobjectAis

q 3.0 10 6 C
N 19
1.9 10 13
e 1.60 10 C

Thiscorrespondstoanincreaseinmassgivenby

9.111031 kg

m 1.9 1013 electrons 17
1.7 10 kg
1electron

Sincebothobjectscarrychargeofthesamemagnitude, N isalsoequaltothenumberof
electronslostbyobjectB.Hence,themassofBisreducedbytheamountm.IfMisthe
massofeither objectwhentheyareelectrically neutral,thenthemassofeachcharged
objectis:
MA=M+mwhileMB=Mm

Themassdifferencebetweenthechargedobjectsis,therefore,

M=MAMB=(M+m)(Mm)

17 17
=2m=2(1.710 kg)= 3.4 10 kg

Fromthediscussionabove, object A has the larger mass .

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5. REASONING Identicalconductingspheresequalizetheirchargeupontouching. When

spheres A and B touch, an amount of charge +q, flows from A and instantaneously
neutralizestheqchargeonBleavingBmomentarilyneutral.Then,theremainingamount
ofcharge,equalto+4q,isequallysplitbetweenAandB,leavingAandBeachwithequal
amountsofcharge+2q.SphereCisinitiallyneutral,sowhenAandCtouch,the+2qonA
splitsequallytogive+qonAand+qonC.WhenBandCtouch,the+2qonBandthe+q
onCcombinetogiveatotalchargeof+3q,whichisthenequallydividedbetweenthe
spheresBandC;thus,BandCareeachleftwithanamountofcharge+1.5q.

SOLUTION Taking note of the initial values given in the problem statement, and
summarizing the final results determined in the Reasoning above, we conclude the
following:
 Chapter 18 Problems 253

a. SphereCendsupwithanamountofchargeequalto +1.5q .

b. Thechargesonthethreespheresbeforetheyweretouched,are,accordingtotheproblem
statement,+5qonsphereA,qonsphereB,andzerochargeonsphereC.Thus,thetotal
chargeonthespheresis 5q q 0 4q .

c. Thechargesonthespheresaftertheyaretouchedare+qonsphereA,+1.5qonsphereB,
and+1.5qonsphereC.Thus,thetotalchargeonthespheresis q 1.5q 1.5q 4q .
______________________________________________________________________________

6. REASONING
a. ThenumberNofelectronsis10timesthenumberofwatermoleculesin1literofwater.
Thenumberofwatermoleculesisequaltothenumbernofmolesofwatermoleculestimes
AvogadrosnumberNA: N 10 n NA .

b. Thenetchargeofalltheelectronsisequaltothenumberofelectronstimesthechangeon
oneelectron.

SOLUTION
a. ThenumberNofwatermoleculesisequalto 10 n NA ,wherenisthenumberofmolesof
watermoleculesandNAisAvogadrosnumber.Thenumberofmolesisequaltothemass
mof1literofwaterdividedbythemasspermoleofwater.Themassofwaterisequalto
its density times the volume, as expressed by Equation 11.1. Thus, the number of
electronsis

m V
N 10 n NA 10 NA 10 NA
18.0 g/mol 18.0 g/mol

3 1000 g

10
3
3
1000 kg/m 1.00 10 m 23
1 kg 6.022 10 mol1

18.0 g/mol

3.35 1026 electrons

b. ThenetchargeQofalltheelectronsisequaltothenumberofelectronstimesthechange

ononeelectron: Q 3.35 1026 1.60 1019 C 5.36 107 C .
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254 ELECTRIC FORCES AND ELECTRIC FIELDS

7. REASONINGANDSOLUTION Themagnitudeoftheforceofattractionbetweenthe
chargesisgivenbyCoulomb'slaw(Equation18.1): F k q1 q2 / r 2 ,where q1 and q2
arethemagnitudesofthechargesand r istheseparationofthecharges. Let FA and FB
representthemagnitudesoftheforcesbetweenthechargeswhentheseparationsarerAand
rB=rA/9,respectively.Then

2 2
FB k q1 q2 / rB2 rA rA 2
(9) 81
FA k q1 q2 / rA2 rB A r / 9

Therefore,wecanconcludethat FB 81 FA (81)(1.5 N)= 120 N .

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8. REASONINGANDSOLUTIONThemagnitudeoftheelectrostaticforceexertedoneach
protoncanbeobtainedfromCoulomb'slaw

F
k q1 q2

8.99 109 N m 2 / C2 1.60 10 19 C 1.60 10 19 C
26 N
r2
3.0 10 m
15 2

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9. REASONINGANDSOLUTIONTheelectrostaticforcesdecreaseswiththesquareofthe
distanceseparatingthecharges.Ifthisdistanceisincreasedbyafactorof5thentheforce
willdecreasebyafactorof25.Thenewforceis,then,

3.5 N
F
0.14 N
25
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10. REASONING Themagnitudeoftheelectrostaticforcethatactsonparticle1isgivenby

Coulombslawas F k q1 q2 / r 2 .Thisequationcanbeusedtofindthemagnitude q2
ofthecharge.

SOLUTIONSolvingCoulombslawforthemagnitude q2 ofthechargegives

q2
F r2

3.4 N 0.26 m 2
7.3 106 C (18.1)
k q1 9 2 2
9.0 10 N m /C 3.5 10 C
6

Sinceq1ispositiveandexperiencesanattractiveforce,thechargeq2mustbe negative .
 Chapter 18 Problems 255

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11. REASONINGANDSOLUTION
a. Sincethegravitationalforcebetweenthespheresisoneofattractionandtheelectrostatic
forcemustbalanceit,theelectricforcemustbeoneofrepulsion. Therefore,thecharges
musthave the same algebraic signs, both positive or both negative .

b. Therearetwoforcesthatactoneachsphere;theyarethegravitationalattractionFGof
onespherefortheother,andtherepulsiveelectricforce FE ofonesphereontheother.
Fromtheproblemstatement,weknowthatthesetwoforcesbalanceeachother,sothat
FG=FE. Themagnitude of FG is givenbyNewton's law ofgravitation (Equation4.3:
FG Gm1m2 / r 2 ),whilethemagnitudeof FE isgivenbyCoulomb'slaw(Equation18.1:
FE k q1 q2 / r 2 ).Therefore,wehave
Gm1m2 k q1 q2 2
2
2
or Gm2 k q
r r

sincethespheres havethesamemass m andcarrycharges ofthesamemagnitude q .

Solvingfor q ,wefind
G 6.67 10 11 N m 2 /kg 2
q m (2.0 10 6 kg) 9 2 2
1.7 10 16 C
k 8.99 10 N m /C
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12. REASONING
a. ThemagnitudeoftheelectrostaticforcethatactsoneachsphereisgivenbyCoulombs
lawas F k q1 q2 / r 2 ,where q1 and q2 arethemagnitudesofthecharges,andristhe
distancebetweenthecentersofthespheres.

b. Whenthespheresarebroughtintocontact,thenetchargeaftercontactandseparation
mustbeequaltothenetchargebeforecontact.Sincethespheresareidentical,thecharge
oneachafterbeingseparatedisonehalfthenetcharge. Coulombslawcanbeapplied
againtodeterminethemagnitudeoftheelectrostaticforcethateachsphereexperiences.

SOLUTION
a. ThemagnitudeoftheforcethateachsphereexperiencesisgivenbyCoulombslawas:

F
k q1 q2

8.99 109 N m 2 /C2 20.0 106 C 50.0 10 6 C
1.44 104 N

2 2
r 2.50 10 2
m
256 ELECTRIC FORCES AND ELECTRIC FIELDS

Becausethechargeshaveoppositesigns,theforceis attractive .

b. Thenetchargeonthespheresis20.0 C+50.0 C=+30.0 C.Whenthespheresare

broughtintocontact,thenetchargeaftercontactandseparationmustbeequaltothenet
chargebeforecontact,or+30.0 C.Sincethespheresareidentical,thechargeoneachafter
beingseparatedisonehalfthenetcharge,so q1 q2 15.0 C .Theelectrostaticforce
thatactsoneachsphereisnow

F
k q1 q2

8.99 109 N m 2 /C 2 15.0 106 C 15.0 106 C
3.24 103 N

2 2
r 2.50 10 2
m

Sincethechargesnowhavethesamesigns,theforceis repulsive .
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13. REASONING Eachparticlewillexperienceanelectrostaticforceduetothepresenceof

theothercharge.AccordingtoCoulomb'slaw(Equation18.1),themagnitudeoftheforce
feltbyeachparticlecanbecalculatedfrom F k q1 q2 / r 2 ,where q1 and q2 arethe
respectivechargesonparticles1and2andristhedistancebetweenthem.Accordingto
Newton'ssecondlaw,themagnitudeoftheforceexperiencedbyeachparticleisgivenby
F ma, where a is the acceleration of the particle and we have assumed that the
electrostaticforceistheonlyforceacting.

SOLUTION
a. Sincethetwoparticleshaveidenticalpositivecharges, q1 q2 q ,andwehave,using
thedataforparticle1,
2
kq
m1a1
r2
Solvingfor q ,wefindthat

m1a1r 2 (6.00 10 6 kg) (4.60 103 m/s 2 ) (2.60 10 2 m) 2

q 9 2 2
4.56 10 8 C
k 8.99 10 N m /C

b. Sinceeachparticleexperiences aforceofthesamemagnitude (FromNewton'sthird

law),wecanwrite F1=F2,or m1a1=m2a2. Solvingthisexpressionforthemass m2 of
particle2,wehave
 Chapter 18 Problems 257

m1a1 (6.00 10 6 kg)(4.60 103 m/s 2 )

m2 3 2
3.25 10 6 kg
a2 8.50 10 m/s
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14. REASONING AND SOLUTION Calculate the magnitude ofeach force acting onthe
centercharge.UsingCoulombslaw,wecanwrite

F43
k q4 q3

8.99 109 N m2 / C2 4.00 106 C 3.00 106 C
2
r43 0.100 m 2

10.8 N (toward the south)

F53
k q5 q3

8.99 109 N m2 / C2 5.00 106 C 3.00 106 C
2
r53 0.100 m 2

13.5 N (toward the east)

AddingF43andF53asvectors,wehave

2
F = F43 2
F53 10.8 N 2 13.5 N 2 17.3 N

F 10.8 N
tan 1 43 tan 1 38.7 S of E
F
53 13.5 N
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15. REASONINGTheelectronstransferredincreasethemagnitudesofthepositiveandnegative
chargesfrom2.00Ctoagreatervalue. Wecancalculatethenumber N ofelectronsby
dividingthechangeinthemagnitudeofthechargesbythemagnitudeeofthechargeonan
electron.ThegreaterchargethatexistsafterthetransfercanbeobtainedfromCoulombs
lawandthevaluegivenforthemagnitudeoftheelectrostaticforce.

SOLUTIONThenumberNofelectronstransferredis

qafter qbefore
N
e
258 ELECTRIC FORCES AND ELECTRIC FIELDS

where qafter and qbefore arethemagnitudesofthechargesafterandbeforethetransferof

electronsoccurs.Toobtain qafter ,weapplyCoulombslawwithavalueof68.0Nforthe
electrostaticforce:
2
qafter Fr 2
F k or qafter
r2 k

UsingthisresultintheexpressionforN,wefindthat

Fr 2 68.0 N 0.0300 m 2 2.00 106 C

qbefore 9 2 2
N k 8.99 10 N m / C 3.8 1012
e 1.60 1019 C

16. REASONING Theunknownchargescan +4.00C

be determined using Coulombs law to
express the electrostatic force that each 30.0 Fcos30.0
unknown charge exerts on the 4.00C
charge.Inapplyingthislaw,wewilluse
thefactthatthenetforcepointsdownward F
in the drawing. This tells us that the Fsin30.0
unknown charges are both negative and
have the same magnitude, as can be
understoodwiththehelpofthefreebody qA qB
diagram for the 4.00C charge that is
shownattheright.Thediagramshows
theattractiveforceFfromeachnegativechargedirectedalongthelinesbetweenthecharges.
Only when each force has the same magnitude (which is the case when both unknown
chargeshavethesamemagnitude)willtheresultantforcepointverticallydownward.This
occursbecausethehorizontalcomponentsoftheforcescancel,onepointingtotherightand
the other to the left (see the diagram). The vertical components reinforce to give the
observeddownwardnetforce.

SOLUTION Sinceweknowfromthe REASONING thattheunknownchargeshavethe

samemagnitude,wecanwriteCoulombslawasfollows:

F k
4.00 106 C qA
k
4.00 106 C qB
r2 r2

The magnitude of the net force acting on the 4.00C charge, then, is the sum of the
magnitudesofthetwoverticalcomponentsFcos30.0showninthefreebodydiagram:
 Chapter 18 Problems 259

F k
4.00 106 C qA
cos 30.0 k
4.00 10 6 C qB
cos 30.0
r2 r2

2k
4.00 106 C qA
cos 30.0
r2

Solvingforthemagnitudeofthechargegives

qA
F r 2

2k 4.00 106 C cos 30.0

405 N 0.0200 m 2 2.60 106 C
9
2 8.99 10 N m / C 2 2
4.00 10 6

C cos 30.0

Thus,wehave qA qB 2.60 106 C .

17. REASONING The unknown charge q must be

positive.Toseewhy,considertheunknowncharge
attheupperrightcornerinthedrawingattheright 0.70 C FO
FL +q
(theunknownchargeatthelowerleftcornercould
alsobeused).Threeforcesactonthischarge:(1)
FO istherepulsiveforceduetotheotherunknown FB
chargeontheoppositecorner,(2)FBistheattractive
d
forceduetothenegativechargeatthelowerright
corner,and(3) FL istheattractiveforceduetothe
negativechargeattheupperleftcorner.Thesethree
d
forcesaddtogiveanetforceofzero.Theunknown
chargecannotbenegative,becausethenFBandFL +q 0.70 C
wouldhavedirectionsoppositeto
thoseshownintheshowninthedrawing,andthesumofFO,FB,andFLcouldnotbezero.
We note that the magnitudes of FB and FL are equal according to Coulombs law
(Equation18.1),sincethesidesofthesquarehaveequallengthsandthechargemagnitudes
are q and 0.70C in each case. We also note that the directions of FB and FL are
perpendicular.Thus,theresultantofFBandFLisgivenbythePythagoreantheoremand
pointsalongthediagonalofthesquare,directlyoppositetothedirectionofFO.Sincethe
260 ELECTRIC FORCES AND ELECTRIC FIELDS

vectorsumofFO,FB,andFL iszero,themagnitudeoftheresultantofFB andFL mustequal

themagnitudeofFO,anditiswiththisfactinmindthatwebeginoursolution.

SOLUTIONUsingthePythagoreantoexpressthemagnitudeoftheresultantofFB andFL,
whichisequaltoFO,wehave

FB2 FL2 FO (1)

Coulombslawindicatesthat

FB FL

k 0.70 10 6 C q and FO
kq
2

kq
2

d2

2
2d 2d 2

wherewehaveuseddforthelengthofasideofthesquareandthefactthatthediagonalof
thesquarehasalengthof d 2 d 2 2 d . Substitutingtheseexpressionsfor FO, FB,
andFL intoEquation(1),wefind

2 2 2
k 0.70 10 6 C q k 0.70 10 6 C q k 0.70 10 6 C q k q
2
2
d2 d2 d2 2d 2

Simplifyingthisresultshowsthat

2 k 0.70 10 6 C q 2

d 2

kq
2d 2
or
q 2 2 0.70 10 6 C 2.0 C
AsdiscussedintheREASONING,thealgebraicsignofthechargeispositive.
______________________________________________________________________________

18. REASONING
a. Therearetwoelectrostaticforcesthatactonq1;thatdueto q2 andthatduetoq3.The
magnitudes of these forces can befound byusing Coulombs law. The magnitude and
directionofthenetforcethatactsonq1canbedeterminedbyusingthemethodofvector
components.

b. AccordingtoNewtonssecondlaw,Equation4.2b,theaccelerationofq1isequaltothe
netforcedividedbyitsmass.However,thereisonlyoneforceactingonit,sothisforceis
thenetforce.
+y q2
F13 F 12 1.30m
23.0 23.0
+x
q1
1.30m
q3
 Chapter 18 Problems 261

SOLUTION
a. ThemagnitudeF12oftheforceexertedonq1byq2isgivenbyCoulombslaw,Equation
18.1,wherethedistanceisspecifiedinthedrawing:

F12
k q1 q2

8.99 109 N m 2 /C 2 8.00 106 C 5.00 10 6 C
0.213 N
r122 1.30 m 2

Sincethemagnitudesofthechargesandthedistancesarethesame,themagnitudeofF13is
thesameasthemagnitudeofF12,orF13=0.213N.Fromthedrawingitcanbeseenthatthe
xcomponentsofthetwoforcescancel,soweneedonlytocalculatetheycomponentsofthe
forces.

Force ycomponent
F12 +F12sin23.0=+(0.213N)sin23.0=+0.0832N

F13 +F13sin23.0=+(0.213N)sin23.0=+0.0832N

F Fy=+0.166N

Thus,thenetforceis F 0.166 N (directed along the +y axis) .

b. AccordingtoNewtonssecondlaw,Equation4.2b,theaccelerationofq1isequaltothe
netforcedividedbyitsmass.However,thereisonlyoneforceactingonit,sothisforceis
thenetforce:
F 0.166 N
a 111 m /s 2
m 1.50 103 kg

wheretheplussignindicatesthat the acceleration is along the +y axis .

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262 ELECTRIC FORCES AND ELECTRIC FIELDS

19. REASONING Considerthedrawingatthe q1 qU

right.ItisgiventhatthechargesqA,q1,and
FAU
q2areeachpositive.Therefore,thecharges FA2 d
q1andq2eachexertarepulsiveforceonthe qA 4d q2=+3.0C
charge qA. As the drawing shows, these

forces have magnitudes FA1 (vertically
downward)andFA2(horizontallytotheleft). FA1
Theunknownchargeplacedat
theemptycorneroftherectangleis qU,anditexertsaforceon qA thathasamagnitude
FAU.InorderthatthenetforceactingonqApointintheverticaldirection,thehorizontal
componentofFAUmustcanceloutthehorizontalforceFA2.Therefore,FAUmustpointas
showninthedrawing,whichmeansthatitisanattractiveforceandqUmustbenegative,
sinceqAispositive.

SOLUTION Thebasisforoursolutionisthefactthatthehorizontalcomponentof FAU

mustcanceloutthehorizontalforceFA2.Themagnitudesoftheseforcescanbeexpressed
usingCoulombslaw F k q q / r 2 ,whereristhedistancebetweenthechargesqand q .
Thus,wehave

k qA qU k qA q2
FAU and FA2
4d 2
d2 4d 2

wherewehaveusedthefactthatthedistancebetweenthechargesqAandqUisthediagonal

oftherectangle,whichis 4d 2 d 2 accordingtothePythagoreantheorem,andthefact
thatthedistancebetweenthechargesqAandq2is4d.ThehorizontalcomponentofFAUis
FAU cos ,whichmustbeequaltoFA2,sothatwehave

k qA qU k qA q2 qU q2
cos or cos
4d 2 d 2 4d 2 17 16

The drawing in the REASONING, reveals that cos 4d / 4d 2 d 2 4 / 17 .

Therefore,wefindthat

qU 4 q2

17 17 16
or qU
17 17
64
q2
17 17
64

3.0 106 C 3.3 10 6 C
 Chapter 18 Problems 263

AsdiscussedintheREASONING,thealgebraicsignofthechargeqUisnegative.

20. REASONINGWewilluseCoulombslawtocalculatetheforcethatanyonechargeexerts
onanothercharge. Notethatinsuchcalculationstherearethreeseparationstoconsider.
Someofthechargesareadistancedapart,someadistance2d,andsomeadistance3d.The
greaterthedistance,thesmallertheforce. Thenetforceactingonanyonechargeisthe
vectorsumofthreeforces.Inthefollowingdrawingwerepresenteachofthoseforcesbyan
arrow. Thesearrowsarenotdrawntoscaleandaremeantonlytosymbolizethethree
differentforcemagnitudesthatresultfromthethreedifferentdistancesusedinCoulombs
law. Inthedrawingthedirectionsaredeterminedbythefactsthatlikechargesrepeland
unlikechargesattract.Byexaminingthedrawingwewillbeabletoidentifythegreatestand
thesmallestnetforce.

+ d + d + d
A B C D

ThegreatestnetforceoccursforchargeC,becauseallthreeforcecontributionspointinthe
samedirectionandtwoofthethreehavethegreatestmagnitude,whilethethirdhasthenext
greatestmagnitude. ThesmallestnetforceoccursforchargeB,becausetwoofthethree
forcecontributionscancel.

SOLUTION UsingCoulombslawforeachcontributiontothenetforce,wecalculatethe
ratioofthegreatesttothesmallestnetforceasfollows:

2 2 2
q q q
k k k
F C d2 d2 2d 2 1 1 14
9.0
F B q
2
q
2
q
2 1
4
k k k
d2 d2 2d 2

21. REASONINGThisisaproblemthatdealswithmotioninacircleofradiusr.AsChapter
5 discusses, a centripetal force acts on the plane to keep it on its circular path. The
centripetalforce Fc isthenamegiventothenetforcethatactsontheplaneintheradial
directionandpointstowardthecenterofthecircle. Whentherearenoelectriccharges
present,onlythetensionintheguidelinesuppliesthisforce,andithasavalueTmaxatthe
momentthelinebreaks.However,whenthereisachargeof+qontheplaneandacharge
of q on the guideline at the center of the circle, there are two contributions to the
264 ELECTRIC FORCES AND ELECTRIC FIELDS

centripetalforce.Oneistheelectrostaticforceofattractionbetweenthechargesand,since
thechargeshavethesamemagnitude,itsmagnitudeFisgivenbyCoulombslaw(Equation
18.1)as F k q 2 / r 2 .Theotheristhetension Tmax,whichischaracteristicoftherope
andhasthesamevalueaswhennochargesarepresent.Whetherornotchargesarepresent,
thecentripetalforceisequaltothemassmtimesthecentripetalacceleration,accordingto
2
NewtonssecondlawandstatedinEquation5.3, Fc=mv /r. Inthisexpression v isthe
speedoftheplane.Sincewearegiveninformationabouttheplaneskineticenergy,wewill
2
usethedefinitionofkineticenergy,whichisKE=mv /2,accordingtoEquation6.2.

2
SOLUTION From the definition of kinetic energy, we see that mv =2(KE), so that
Equation5.3forthecentripetalforcebecomes

mv 2 2 KE
Fc
r r

Applyingthisresulttothesituationswithandwithoutthecharges,weget

kq
2 2 KE charged 2 KE uncharged
Tmax 2 1 Tmax
14 2 43
2
1 4 2 4r 3 r r
Centripetal
Centripetal force
force

SubtractingEquation(2)fromEquation(1)eliminatesTmaxandgives

kq
2 2 KE charged KE uncharged

r2 r
Solvingfor q gives

2r KE charged KE uncharged
q 2 3.0 m 51.8 J 50.0 J 3.5 10 5 C
k 8.99 109 N m 2 / C 2
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22. REASONINGANDSOLUTIONAssumethatbeforetheobjectsaretouchedthattheleft
objecthasanegativechargeofmagnitude q1 andtherightobjecthasapositivechargeof
magnitude q2 .Theforcebetweenthemthenhasamagnitudeof
k q1 q2
F
r2
 Chapter 18 Problems 265

Aftertouchingthechargeoneachobjectisthesameandofmagnitude q2 q1 / 2 . The
magnitudeoftheforcebetweentheobjectsisnow

2
k q2 q1 / 2
F
2
r

Equatingtheequationsandrearranginggives

2 2
q2 6 q1 q2 q1 0

Thesolutionstothisquadraticequationare

q1 =5.58C, q2 =0.957Cand q1 =0.957C, q2 =5.58C

Thecharge,q1,wasassumednegative,sothepossiblesolutionsare

5.58 C on left, + 0.957 C on right and 0.957 C on left, + 5.58 C on right

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23. REASONING Thechargedinsulatorexperiencesanelectricforceduetothepresenceof

thechargedsphereshowninthedrawinginthetext.Theforcesactingontheinsulatorare
the downward force of gravity (i.e., its weight, W mg ), the electrostatic force
F k q1 q2 / r 2 (seeCoulomb'slaw,Equation18.1)pullingtotheright,andthetensionT
inthewirepullingupandtotheleftatanangle withrespecttotheverticalasshowninthe
drawingintheproblemstatement. Wecananalyzetheforcestodeterminethedesired
quantitiesandT.

SOLUTION.
a. Wecanseefromthediagramgivenwiththeproblemstatementthat

Tx F whichgives T sin k q1 q2 / r 2
and
Ty W whichgives T cos mg

Dividingthefirstequationbythesecondyields

T sin k q1 q2 / r 2
tan
T cos mg
266 ELECTRIC FORCES AND ELECTRIC FIELDS

Solvingfor,wefindthat

k q q
tan 1 1 22
mgr

(8.99 109 N m 2 /C 2 )(0.600 10 6 C)(0.900 10 6 C)

tan 1 15.4
(8.00 10 2 kg)(9.80 m/s 2 )(0.150 m) 2

b. Since T cos mg ,thetensioncanbeobtainedasfollows:

mg (8.00 102 kg) (9.80 m/s 2 )

T 0.813 N
cos cos 15.4
______________________________________________________________________________

24. REASONINGANDSOLUTION Inorderforthenetforceonanychargetobedirected

inwardtowardthecenterofthesquare,thechargesmustbeplacedwithalternate+and
signsoneachsuccessivecorner. Themagnitude oftheforceonanychargeduetoan
adjacentchargelocatedatadistanceris

8.99 109 N m 2 / C2 2.0 106 C

2 2
kq
F 0.40 N
r2 0.30 m 2

Theforcesduetotwoadjacentchargesareperpendiculartooneanotherandproducea
resultantforcethathasamagnitudeof

Fadjacent 2 F 2 2 0.40 N 0.57 N

2

Themagnitudeoftheforceduetothediagonalchargethatislocatedatadistanceof r 2 is

2 2
kq kq 0.40 N
Fdiagonal 0.20 N
r 2
2 2r 2 2

sincethediagonaldistanceis r 2 .TheforceFdiagonalisdirectedoppositetoFadjacent(since
thediagonalchargesareofthesamesign). Therefore,thenetforceactingonanyofthe
chargesisdirectedinwardandhasamagnitude

Fnet=FadjacentFdiagonal=0.57N0.20N=
______________________________________________________________________________
 Chapter 18 Problems 267

25. SOLUTIONKnowingtheelectricfieldataspotallowsustocalculatetheforcethatactson
achargeplacedatthatspot,withoutknowingthenatureoftheobjectproducingthefield.
ThisispossiblebecausetheelectricfieldisdefinedasE=F/q0,accordingtoEquation18.2.
ThisequationcanbesolveddirectlyfortheforceF,ifthefieldEandchargeq0areknown.

SOLUTIONUsingEquation18.2,wefindthattheforcehasamagnitudeof

F E q0 260 000 N/C 7.0 10 6 C 1.8 N
Ifthechargewerepositive,thedirectionoftheforcewouldbeduewest,thesameasthe
direction of the field. But the charge is negative, so the force points in the opposite
directionordueeast.Thus,theforceonthechargeis.
______________________________________________________________________________

26. REASONINGANDSOLUTION The

electricfieldlinesmustoriginateonthe -4q +5q
positive charges and terminate on the
negative charges. They cannot cross
oneanother. Furthermore,thenumber
of field lines beginning or ending on
anychargemustbeproportionaltothe
magnitudeofthecharge.If10electric
field lines leave the +5q charge, then
six lines must originate from the +3q
charge, and eight lines must end on
each4qcharge. Thedrawingshows +3q -4q
the electric field lines that meet these
criteria.
______________________________________________________________________________

27. REASONINGTwoforcesactonthechargedball(chargeq);theyarethedownwardforce
ofgravitymgandtheelectricforceFduetothepresenceofthechargeqintheelectricfield
E.Inorderfortheballtofloat,thesetwoforcesmustbeequalinmagnitudeandoppositein
direction,sothatthenetforceontheballiszero(Newton'ssecondlaw).Therefore,Fmust
pointupward,whichwewilltakeasthepositivedirection. AccordingtoEquation18.2,
F=qE. Sincethecharge q isnegative,theelectricfield E mustpointdownward,asthe
productqEintheexpressionF=qEmustbepositive,sincetheforceFpointsupward.The
magnitudesofthetwoforcesmustbeequal,sothat mg q E . Thisexpressioncanbe
solvedforE.

SOLUTIONThemagnitudeoftheelectricfieldEis
268 ELECTRIC FORCES AND ELECTRIC FIELDS

mg (0.012 kg)(9.80 m/s 2 )

E 6
6.5 103 N/C
q 18 10 C

Asdiscussedinthereasoning,thiselectricfieldpoints downward .
______________________________________________________________________________

28. REASONING Theelectricfieldcreatedbyapointchargeisinverselyproportionaltothe

squareofthedistancefromthecharge,accordingtoEquation18.3.Therefore,weexpectthe
distancer2tobegreaterthanthedistancer1,sincethefieldissmalleratr2thanatr1.The
ratior2/r1,then,shouldbegreaterthanone.

SOLUTIONApplyingEquation18.3toeachpositionrelativetothecharge,wehave

kq kq
E1 and E2
r12 r22

DividingtheexpressionforE1bytheexpressionforE2gives

E1 k q / r12 r22

E2 k q / r22 r12

Solvingfortheratior2/r1gives

r2 E1 248 N/C
1.37
r1 E2 132 N/C

Asexpected,thisratioisgreaterthanone.

29. REASONING
a. Thedrawingshowsthetwopointchargesq1andq2.PointAislocatedatx=0cm,and
pointBisatx=+6.0cm.

A B
E1 3.0cm 3.0cm 3.0cm
q1 q2
E2
 Chapter 18 Problems 269

Sinceq1 ispositive,theelectricfieldpointsawayfromit.AtpointA,theelectricfieldE1
pointstotheleft,inthexdirection.Sinceq2isnegative,theelectricfieldpointstowardit.
AtpointA,theelectricfieldE2pointstotheright,inthe+xdirection.Thenetelectricfield
is E = E1 + E2. WecanuseEquation18.3, E k q / r 2 ,tofindthemagnitudeofthe
electricfieldduetoeachpointcharge.

b. Thedrawingshowstheelectricfieldproducedbythechargesq1andq2atpointB,which
islocatedatx=+6.0cm.

A B q2
3.0cm 3.0cm 3.0cm
q1 E1
E2

Since q1 ispositive,theelectricfieldpointsawayfromit. AtpointB,theelectricfield

pointstotheright,inthe+xdirection.Sinceq2isnegative,theelectricfieldpointstoward
it.AtpointB,theelectricfieldpointstotheright,inthe+xdirection.Thenetelectricfield
isE=+E1+E2.

SOLUTION
a. Thenetelectricfieldattheorigin(pointA)isE=E1+E2:

k q1 k q2
E E1 E2
r12 r22

8.99 109 N m 2 /C2 8.5 10 6 C 8.99 109 N m 2 /C2 21 106 C
3.0 102 m 9.0 102 m
2 2

6.2 107 N/C

Theminussigntellsusthatthenetelectricfieldpointsalongthexaxis.

b. Thenetelectricfieldatx=+6.0cm(pointB)isE=E1+E2:
270 ELECTRIC FORCES AND ELECTRIC FIELDS

k q1 k q2
E E1 E2
r12 r22

8.99 109 N m 2 /C 2 8.5 10 6 C 8.99 109 N m 2 /C 2 21 10 6 C

3.0 10 m 3.0 102 m
2 2 2

2.9 108 N/C

Theplussigntellsusthatthenetelectricfieldpointsalongthe+xaxis.
______________________________________________________________________________

30. REASONINGANDSOLUTION
a. Inorderforthefieldtobezero,thepointcannotbebetweenthetwocharges.Instead,it
mustbelocatedonthelinebetweenthetwochargesonthesideofthepositivechargeand
awayfromthenegativecharge.Ifxisthedistancefromthepositivechargetothepointin
question,thenthenegativechargeisatadistance(3.0m+x)metersfromthispoint.For
thefieldtobezeroherewehave

k q k q+ q q+
or
3.0 m x 2 x2 3.0 m x 2 x2

Solvingfortheratioofthechargemagnitudesgives

16.0 C 3.0 m x 3.0 m x

2 2
q
or 4.0
q+ 4.0 C x2 x2

Suppressingtheunitsforconvenienceandrearrangingthisresultgives

4.0x 2 3.0 x
2
or 4.0x2 9.0 6.0 x x 2 or 3x 2 6.0 x 9.0 0

Solvingthisquadraticequationfor x withtheaidofthequadraticformula(seeAppendix
C.4)showsthat
x=3.0morx=1.0m

Wechoosethepositivevalueforx,sincethenegativevaluewouldlocatethezerofieldspot
betweenthetwocharges,whereitcannotbe(seeabove).Thus,wehavex=3.0m.
 Chapter 18 Problems 271

b. Sincethefieldiszeroatthispoint,theforceactingonachargeatthatpointwouldbe 0 N .
______________________________________________________________________________

31. REASONINGBeforethe3.0Cpointchargeqisintroducedintotheregion,theregion
containsauniformelectricfieldEofmagnitude1.6 104 N/C .Afterthe3.0Cchargeis
introducedintotheregion,thenetelectricfieldchanges.Inadditiontotheuniformelectric
field E ,theregionwillalsocontaintheelectricfield E q duetothepointcharge q. The
fieldatanypointintheregionisthevectorsumof E and E q .Thefield E q isradialas
discussedinthetext,anditsmagnitudeatanydistance r fromthecharge q isgivenby
2
Equation18.3, Eq k q / r .TherewillbeonepointPintheregionwherethenetelectric
field E net iszero. Thispointislocatedwherethefield E hasthesamemagnitudeand
pointsinthedirectionoppositetothefield E q . Wewillusethisreasoningtofindthe
distancer0fromthechargeqtothepointP.

SOLUTION Letusassumethatthefield E pointstotherightandthatthecharge q is

negative (theproblemisdonethesamewayif q ispositive, althoughthentherelative
positionsof Pand q willbereversed). Since q isnegative,itselectricfieldisradially
inward(i.e.,towardq);therefore,inorderforthefield E q topointintheoppositedirection
to E ,thechargeqwillhavetobetotheleftofthepointPwhere E net iszero,asshownin
thedrawingattheright.UsingEquation
18.3, Eq k q / r0 ,andsolvingforthe q = 3.0 C
2 Eq E

distance r0, we find r0 k q / Eq . Point Pwhere

Enet = 0
Sincethemagnitude Eq mustbeequal r0

tothemagnitudeofEatthepointP,wehave

kq (8.99 109 Nm 2 /C2 ) (3.0 10 6 C)

r0
1.3 m
E 1.6 104 N/C
______________________________________________________________________________

32. REASONINGANDSOLUTIONTheelectricfieldisdefinedbyEquation18.2:E=F/q0.
Thus,themagnitudeoftheforceexertedonachargeqinanelectricfieldofmagnitudeEis
givenby
FqE (1)

Themagnitudeoftheelectricfieldcanbedeterminedfromitsxandycomponentsbyusing
thePythagoreantheorem:
272 ELECTRIC FORCES AND ELECTRIC FIELDS

6.00 103 N/C 8.00 103 N/C

2 2
E Ex2 E y2 1.00 104 N/C

a. FromEquation(1)above,themagnitudeoftheforceonthechargeis

F=(7.50106C)(1.00104N/C)= 7.5 10 2 N

b. Fromthedefiningequationfortheelectricfield,itfollowsthatthedirectionoftheforce
onachargeisthesameasthedirectionofthefield,providedthatthechargeispositive.
Thus,theanglethattheforcemakeswiththexaxisisgivenby

Ey 8.00 103 N/C

tan 1 tan 1 53.1
E 3
x 6.00 10 N/C
______________________________________________________________________________

33. REASONING Since the charged droplet (charge=q) is suspended motionless in the
electricfieldE,thenetforceonthedropletmustbezero.Therearetwoforcesthatacton
thedroplet,theforceofgravity W mg ,andtheelectricforceF=qEduetotheelectric
field.Sincethenetforceonthedropletiszero,weconcludethat mg q E .Wecanuse
thisreasoningtodeterminethesignandthemagnitudeofthechargeonthedroplet.

SOLUTION
a.Sincethenetforceonthedropletiszero,andtheweightofmagnitudeW F
points downward, the electric force of magnitude F q E must point
upward. Sincetheelectric fieldpointsupward,theexcesschargeonthe
dropletmustbe positive inorderfortheforceFtopointupward. mg

b. Usingtheexpression mg q E ,wefindthatthemagnitudeoftheexcesschargeonthe
dropletis
mg (3.50 10 9 kg)(9.80 m/s 2 )
q 4.04 10 12 C
E 8480 N/C

Thechargeonaprotonis1.601019C,sotheexcessnumberofprotonsis

4.04 1012 C 1.601 proton

10 19


C
2.53 107 protons

______________________________________________________________________________
 Chapter 18 Problems 273

34. REASONINGANDSOLUTIONThefigureattherightshows +q - q
theconfigurationgivenintextFigure18.21a.Theelectricfield 1 1 2
atthecenteroftherectangleistheresultantoftheelectricfields
atthecenterduetoeachofthefourcharges. Asdiscussedin
ConceptualExample11,themagnitudesoftheelectricfieldat
thecenterduetoeachofthefourchargesareequal.However,
thefieldsproducedbythecharges incorners1and3arein
oppositedirections.Sincetheyhavethesamemagnitudes,they 4 4 3
combinetogivezeroresultant. +q +q

Thefieldsproducedbythechargesincorners2and4pointin Figure1
thesamedirection(towardcorner2).Thus,EC=EC2+EC4,
whereECisthemagnitudeoftheelectricfieldatthecenteroftherectangle,andEC2and
EC4arethemagnitudesoftheelectricfieldatthecenterduetothechargesincorners2and
4respectively.SincebothEC2andEC4havethesamemagnitude,wehaveEC=2EC2.

Thedistancer,fromanyofthechargestothecenter 1 1 2
oftherectangle,canbefoundusingthePythagorean
theorem:
d
5.00 cm
2 2
d (3.00 cm) +(5.00 cm) 5.83 cm

4 4 3
d
Therefore, r 2.92 cm 2.92 102 m 3.00 cm
2

Figure2

Theelectricfieldatthecenterhasamagnitudeof

2k q2 2(8.99 109 N m 2 /C2 )(8.60 1012 C)

EC 2 EC 2 2
1.81 102 N/C
r2 (2.92 10 m) 2
274 ELECTRIC FORCES AND ELECTRIC FIELDS

Thefigureattherightshowstheconfigurationgivenintext - q - q
Figure 18.21b. All four charges contribute a nonzero 1 1 2
componenttotheelectricfieldatthecenteroftherectangle.
AsdiscussedinConceptual Example 11, thecontribution E 13 E 24
fromthechargesincorners2and4pointtowardcorner2and
thecontributionfromthechargesincorners1and3point C
towardcorner1.
4 4 3
Noticealso,themagnitudesof E24 and E13 areequal,and, + q +q

fromthefirstpartofthisproblem,weknowthat
Figure3
E24 =E13=1.81 102N/C

Theelectricfieldatthecenteroftherectangleisthevectorsumof E24 and E13. The x

componentsofE24 andE13areequalinmagnitudeandoppositeindirection;hence

(E13)x(E24)x=0
Therefore,
EC ( E13 ) y ( E24 ) y 2( E13 ) y 2( E13 ) sin

FromFigure2,wehavethat

5.00 cm 5.00 cm
sin 0.858
d 5.83 cm
and

EC 2 E13 sin 2 1.8110 2 N/C 0.858 3.1110 2 N/C
______________________________________________________________________________

35. REASONING Thetwochargeslyingonthe x axisproducenonetelectricfieldatthe

coordinateorigin.Thisisbecausetheyhaveidenticalcharges,arelocatedthesamedistance
fromtheorigin,andproduceelectricfieldsthatpointinoppositedirections. Theelectric
fieldproducedbyq3attheoriginpointsawayfromthecharge,oralongthe ydirection.
Theelectricfieldproducedby q4 attheoriginpointstowardthecharge,oralongthe+y
direction.Thenetelectricfieldis,then,E=E3+E4,whereE3andE4canbedetermined
byusingEquation18.3.

SOLUTIONThenetelectricfieldattheoriginis
 Chapter 18 Problems 275

k q3 k q4
E E3 E4
r32 r42

8.99 109 N m 2 /C2 3.0 10 6 C 8.99 109 N m 2 /C 2 8.0 10 6 C
5.0 102 m 7.0 102 m
2 2

3.9 106 N/C

Theplussignindicatesthat the net electric field points along the +y direction .

______________________________________________________________________________

36. REASONING Themagnitudeoftheelectricfieldbetweentheplates ofaparallelplate

capacitorisgivenbyEquation18.4as E ,whereisthechargedensityforeachplate
0
and 0 isthepermittivityoffreespace. Itisthechargedensitythatcontainsinformation
abouttheradiiofthecircularplates,forchargedensityisthechargeperunitarea.Thearea
2
ofacircleisr .Thesecondcapacitorhasagreaterelectricfield,soitsplatesmusthavethe
greaterchargedensity.Sincethechargeontheplatesisthesameineachcase,theplatearea
and,hence,theplateradius,mustbesmallerforthesecondcapacitor.Asaresult,weexpect
thattheratior2/r1islessthanone.

SOLUTION Using q todenotethemagnitudeofthechargeonthecapacitorplatesand

A=r2 fortheareaofacircle,wecanuseEquation18.4toexpressthemagnitudeofthe
fieldbetweentheplatesofaparallelplatecapacitorasfollows:

q
E
0 0 r 2

Applyingthisresulttoeachcapacitorgives

q q
E1 and E2
r2 r2
1 4 2 04 31 1 4 2 04 32
First capacitor Second capacitor

DividingtheexpressionforE1bytheexpressionforE2gives
276 ELECTRIC FORCES AND ELECTRIC FIELDS

E1 q / 0 r1

2
r2
22


E2 q / r 2
0 2
r1
Solvingfortheratior2/r1gives

r2 E1 2.2 105 N/C

0.76
r1 E2 3.8 105 N/C

Asexpected,thisratioislessthanone.

37. REASONINGANDSOLUTION Theaverageforce F ontheprotoncanbedetermined

fromtheimpulsemomentumtheorem(Equation7.4):

F t=(mv)

Therefore,themagnitudeoftheforceis

F
mv mv0

5.0 1023 kg m/s 1.5 1023 kg m/s
5.6 1018 N
t 6.3 106 s

F
Fromthedefinitionofelectricfield,E= ,wefindthatthemagnitudeofthefieldis
q0

F 5.6 1018 N
E 35 N/C
q0 1.60 1019 C
______________________________________________________________________________

2 2
38. REASONINGANDSOLUTIONFromkinematics,vy =v0y +2ayy.Sincetheelectron
startsfromrest,v y=0m/s.Theaccelerationoftheprotonisgivenby
0

F eE
ay
m m

where e and m aretheelectron'schargemagnitudeandmass,respectively,and E isthe

magnitudeoftheelectricfield.Themagnitudeoftheelectricfieldbetweentheplatesofa
parallelplatecapacitorisE=/ ,whereisthemagnitudeofthechargeperunitareaon
0
 Chapter 18 Problems 277

eachplate. Thus, ay = e/(m ). Combiningthisexpressionforawiththekinematics

0
equationwehave
e
v 2y 2 y
m
0
Solvingforvygives

vy
2e y


2 1.60 1019 C 1.8 10 7 C/m 2 1.5 102 m
1.0 107 m/s

m 0 9.1110 31

kg 8.85 10

12
C / Nm
2 2

______________________________________________________________________________

39. REASONING Thedrawingshowsthe E2

arrangementofthethreecharges.Let E q +q1
E1
represent the electric field at the empty Eq
d 5 d
cornerduetotheqcharge.Furthermore,
q +q2
letE1andE2betheelectricfieldsatthe
emptycornerduetocharges+q1and+q2, 2d
respectively.

AccordingtothePythagoreantheorem,thedistancefromthechargeqtotheemptycorner
along the diagonal is given by (2d ) 2 d 2 5d 2 d 5 . The magnitude ofeach
electricfieldisgivenbyEquation18.3, E k q / r 2 .Thus,themagnitudesofeachofthe
electricfieldsattheemptycorneraregivenasfollows:

kq kq kq
Eq
d 5
2 2
r 5d 2

k q1 k q1 k q2
E1 and E2
2d 2
4d 2
d2

Theanglethatthediagonalmakeswiththehorizontalis tan 1 (d / 2d ) 26.57 .Since

thenetelectricfield Enet attheemptycorneriszero,thehorizontalcomponentofthenet
fieldmustbezero,andwehave

k q1 k q cos 26.57
E1 Eq cos 26.57 0 or 2
0
4d 5d 2

Similarly,theverticalcomponentofthenetfieldmustbezero,andwehave
278 ELECTRIC FORCES AND ELECTRIC FIELDS

k q2 k q sin 26.57
E2 Eq sin 26.57 0 or 2
0
d 5d 2

Theselasttwoexpressionscanbesolvedforthechargemagnitudes q1 and q2 .

SOLUTIONSolvingthelasttwoexpressionsfor q1 and q2 ,wefindthat

4
q1 q cos 26.57 0.716 q
5

1
q2 q sin 26.57 0.0895 q
5
______________________________________________________________________________

40. REASONING Theproton(charge=+e=1.601019Candmass=m=1.671027kg)

movesinthedirectionoftheelectricfieldbecauseoftheforcethatthefieldappliestothe
proton.Thisforcedoesworkandtherebychangestheprotonskineticenergy.According
to the workenergy theorem (Equation 6.3), the work done causes the protons kinetic
energytochange.Kineticenergyismv2/2,wherevisthespeed.Theworkenergytheorem
willinvolvethefinalspeedoftheprotonandwewilluseittoobtainthatspeed.

SOLUTION According to Equation6.3, the workenergy theorem is W=KEf KE0,

whereWistheworkdonebythenetexternalforcethatactsontheprotonandKE f andKE0
are,respectively,thefinalandinitialkineticenergies.Theforceappliedbytheelectricfield
E istheonlyforceacting,soitisthenetforceand,accordingtoEquation18.2,hasa
magnitudeofF=Ee.Thedirectionoftheforceisinthesamedirectionastheelectricfield,
sincetheprotonhasapositivecharge.Sincethemotionisinthedirectionofthefieldand
theforce,theworkdonebytheforceisgivenbyEquation6.1asW=Fs=Ees,wheresis
thedistancetraveled.Thus,theworkenergytheoremcanbestatedasfollows:

1 1
W KE f KE 0 or Ees mv 2f mv 02
2 2

Solvingthisresultforthefinalspeedvf,wefind
 Chapter 18 Problems 279

2Ees
vf v 20
m

2 2.3 10 3 N/C 1.60 10 19 C 2.0 10 3 m

1.67 10 27
kg
2.5 10 4 m/s 2

3.9 10 4 m/s
______________________________________________________________________________

41. REASONINGThefactthatthenetelectric
fieldpointsupwardalongtheverticalaxis
holdsthekeytothisproblem.Thedrawing E1
at the right shows the fields from each 60.0 30.0
charge, together with the horizontal E2
componentsofeach. Thereasonthatthe
net field points upward is that these E2sin60.0 E1 sin
horizontal components point in opposite 30.0
directions andcancel. Sincetheycancel, 30.0 60.0
they must have equal magnitudes, a fact q2
thatwillquicklyleadustoasolution.
q1

SOLUTIONSettingthemagnitudesofthe
horizontalcomponentsofthefieldsequalgives

E2 sin 60.0 E1 sin 30.0

ThemagnitudeoftheelectricfieldcreatedbyapointchargeisgivenbyEquation18.3.
UsingthisexpressionforE1andE2andnotingthateachpointchargeisthesamedistancer
fromthecenterofthecircle,weobtain

k q2 k q1
sin 60.0 sin 30.0 or q2 sin 60.0 q1 sin 30.0
r2 r2

Solvingfortheratioofthechargemagnitudesgives

q2 sin 30.0
0.577
q1 sin 60.0

42. REASONINGANDSOLUTIONFromtwodimensionalkinematics,takingtheentrypoint
astheorigin,wehave
280 ELECTRIC FORCES AND ELECTRIC FIELDS

2
x=v0xt+axt (1)

1 2
y=v0yt+ ayt (2)
2

2
Thereisnoaccelerationinthexdirection,soax=0m/s .Initially,theelectrontravelsin
the+xdirection,sov0y=0m/s.SolvingEquation(1)fortandsubstitutinginto
Equation(2)gives:

2
1 x
y ay (3)
2 v0 x

FromNewton'ssecondlawandthedefinitionofelectricfieldwehave

F eE
ay
m m
Thus,Equation(3)becomes
2
1 eE x
y
2 m v0 x

whereeisthemagnitudeoftheelectronschargeandmisitsmass.SolvingforEgives

E
2my v0 x
2

2 9.111031 kg 1.50 103 m 7.00 106 m/s 2 3
19 2 2.09 10 N/C
e x 1.60 10 C 2.00 10 m
______________________________________________________________________________

43. REASONING AND SOLUTION Since the thread makes an angle of 30.0 with the
vertical,itcanbeseenthattheelectricforceontheball,Fe,andthegravitationalforce,mg,
arerelatedby
Fe=mgtan30.0

The force Fe is due to the charged ball being in the electric field ofthe parallel plate
capacitor.Thatis,

Fe E qball (1)

where qball isthemagnitudeoftheball'schargeandEisthemagnitudeofthefielddueto

theplates.AccordingtoEquation18.4Eis
 Chapter 18 Problems 281

q
E (18.4)
0 A

where q isthemagnitude ofthechargeoneachplate and A is theareaofeach plate.

SubstitutingEquation18.4intoEquation(1)gives

q qball
Fe mg tan 30.0
0 A
Solvingforqyields

0 Amg tan 30.0

q
qball

8.85 10 12 C 2 / N m 2 0.0150 m 2 6.50 10 3 kg 9.80 m/s 2 tan 30.0

0.150 10 6 C

3.25 10 8 C
______________________________________________________________________________

44. REASONINGANDSOLUTIONTheelectricfieldduetoaparallelplatecapacitorisgiven
byE=/o(Equation18.4).

a. Theinducedchargedensityis,therefore,

=oE=[8.851012C2/(N.m2)](480N/C)=4.2109C/m2

b. Theareaofonefaceofthecircularcoinis

A= r2= (0.019m)2

Thetotalchargeoneachfaceofthecoinis

q=A=(4.2109C/m2)[ (0.019m)2]=4.81012C
______________________________________________________________________________

45. REASONINGThenetelectricfieldatpointPinFigure1isthevectorsumofthefields
E andE ,whicharedue,respectively,tothecharges+qandq.Thesefieldsareshownin
+
Figure2.
282 ELECTRIC FORCES AND ELECTRIC FIELDS

E+
P P

E
l l

a M a
+q q
2d
Figure 1 Figure 2

AccordingtoEquation18.3,themagnitudesofthefieldsE+andEarethesame,sincethe
triangleisanisoscelestrianglewithequalsidesoflength .Therefore, E E k q / l 2 .
The vertical components of these two fields cancel, while the horizontal components
reinforce,leadingtoatotalfieldatpointPthatishorizontalandhasamagnitudeof

k q
EP E cos +E cos 2 2 cos
l

AtpointMinFigure1,bothE andE arehorizontalandpointtotheright.Againusing

+
Equation18.3,wefind
k q k q 2k q
EM E +E 2 2 2
d d d
SinceEM/EP=9.0,wehave

EM 2k q / d 2 1
9.0
EP 2k q cos / l 2
cos d 2 / l 2

ButfromFigure1,wecanseethatd/=cos.Thus,itfollowsthat

1
9.0 or cos 3 1/ 9.0 0.48
cos3

Thevalueforis,then, cos 1 0.48 61 .

______________________________________________________________________________

46. REASONINGANDSOLUTION Themaximumpossiblefluxoccurswhentheelectric

fieldisparalleltothenormaloftherectangularsurface(thatis,whentheanglebetweenthe
directionofthefieldandthedirectionofthenormaliszero).Then
 Chapter 18 Problems 283

E=(Ecos)A=(580N/C)(cos0)(0.16m)(0.38m)= 35 N m 2 / C
______________________________________________________________________________

47. REASONING AsdiscussedinSection18.9,theelectricflux E throughasurfaceis

equaltothecomponentoftheelectricfieldthatisnormaltothesurfacemultipliedbythe
areaofthesurface, E E A ,where E isthecomponentof E thatisnormaltothe
surfaceofareaA.Wecanusethisexpressionandthefigureinthetexttodeterminetheflux
throughthetwosurfaces.

SOLUTION
a. Thefluxthroughsurface1is

E 1 ( E cos 35 )A1 (250 N/C)(cos 35 )(1.7 m 2 ) 350 N m 2 /C

b.Similarly,thefluxthroughsurface2is

E 2 (E cos 55 ) A2 (250 N/C)(cos 55 )(3.2 m 2 ) 460 N m 2 /C

______________________________________________________________________________

Q
48. REASONINGANDSOLUTION Gauss'LawisgivenbytextEquation18.7: E = ,
0
whereQisthenetchargeenclosedbytheGaussiansurface.

3.5 10 6 C
a. E 12 2 2
4.0 10 5 N m 2 /C
8.85 10 C /(N m )

2.3 10 6 C
b. E 12 2 2
2.6 10 5 N m 2 /C
8.85 10 C /(N m )

(3.5 10 6 C) (2.3 10 6 C)
c. E 1.4 10 5 N m 2 /C
8.85 10 12 C 2 /(N m 2 )
______________________________________________________________________________

49. REASONINGANDSOLUTION
a. Inallthreecases,thenetchargeenclosedbythesurfaceisthesame,becausethenet
chargeenclosedbyeachsurfaceisthesame;therefore,byGauss'Law,theelectricflux
throughthesurfacesdescribedinparts(a)through(c)isthesame:

Q 2.0 10 6 C
E 12
2.3 10 5 N m 2 /C
0 8.85 10 2 2
C /(N m )
284 ELECTRIC FORCES AND ELECTRIC FIELDS

b. E 2.3 10 5 N m 2 /C

c. E 2.3 10 5 N m 2 /C
______________________________________________________________________________

50. REASONINGANDSOLUTION Sincetheelectricfieldisuniform,itsmagnitudeand

directionarethesameateachpointonthewall.Theangle betweentheelectricfieldand
thenormaltothewallis35.Therefore,theelectricfluxis

E=(Ecos)A=(150N/C)(cos35)[(5.9m)(2.5m)]= 1.8 10 3 N m 2 /C
______________________________________________________________________________

51. REASONINGTheelectricfluxthrougheachfaceof
the cube is given by E ( E cos ) A (see y E
Section18.9)whereEisthemagnitudeoftheelectric
fieldattheface,Aistheareaoftheface,and isthe
angle between the electric field and the outward
normalofthatface. Wecanusethisexpressionto x
calculatetheelectricflux E througheachofthesix
z
facesofthecube.

SOLUTION
a. Onthebottomfaceofthecube,theoutwardnormalpointsparalleltotheyaxis,inthe
oppositedirectiontotheelectricfield,and=180.Therefore,

E bottom 1500 N/C cos 180 0.20 m 2 6.0 101 N m 2 /C

Onthetopfaceofthecube,theoutwardnormalpointsparalleltothe+yaxis,and=0.0.
Theelectricfluxis,therefore,

( E ) top (1500 N/C)(cos 0.0)(0.20 m) 2 +6.0 101N.m2 /C

Oneachoftheotherfourfaces,theoutwardnormalsareperpendiculartothedirectionof
theelectricfield,so=90.Soforeachofthefoursidefaces,

( E )sides (1500 N/C)(cos 90)(0.20 m)2 0 N m 2 / C

b. Thetotalfluxthroughthecubeis
 Chapter 18 Problems 285

( E ) ( E )top ( E )bottom ( E )side 1 ( E )side 2 ( E )side 3 ( E )side 4

total

Therefore,
( E ) total ( 6.0 101N.m 2 /C) (6.0 101N.m 2 /C) 0 0 0 0 0 N m 2 / C
______________________________________________________________________________

52. REASONINGANDSOLUTIONSincebothchargedistributionsareuniformlyspreadover
concentricsphericalshells,theelectricfieldpossessessphericalsymmetry.Gauss'lawcan
beused todetermine the magnitude ofthe electric field, provided wechoose spherical
Gaussiansurfaces(concentricwiththesphericalshells)toevaluatetheelectricflux.Tofind
themagnitudeoftheelectricfieldatanydistancerfromthecenterofthesphericalshells,
we construct a spherical Gaussian surface of radius r. The electric flux through this
Gaussiansurfaceis
E=(Ecos)A

Becausethechargedistributionshavesphericalsymmetry,weexpecttheelectricfieldtobe
directedradially. Thatis,theelectricfieldiseverywhereperpendiculartotheGaussian
surface.Thus,foranysurfaceelement,willbe0or180.Furthermore,sincethecharge
distributionpossessessphericalsymmetry, weexpecttheelectric fieldtobeuniformin
magnitude over any sphere concentric with the shells. Thus, E is constant over any
Gaussiansurfaceconcentricwiththeshells. Then,(E cos )canbefactoredoutofthe
summation.
E=(Ecos)A=(Ecos)A

whereAisthesumoftheareaelementsthatmakeuptheGaussiansurface.Thissum
mustequalthesurfaceareaoftheGaussiansurfaceor

E=(Ecos)A=(Ecos)4r2)

whereristheradiusoftheGaussiansurface.FromGauss'lawthisbecomes

Q
(Ecos)r2)= (1)
0

whereQisthenetchargeenclosedbytheGaussiansurface.
286 ELECTRIC FORCES AND ELECTRIC FIELDS

a.r=0.20m Gaussian surface

TheGaussiansurfaceenclosesbothshells. Thenet
chargeenclosedis

6 6 6 r1
(+5.1x10 C)+(1.6x10 C)=+3.5x10 C

Since the net charge is positive, E will be radially r

outwardforallpointsontheGaussiansurface,and r2
=0.0forallelementsontheGaussiansurface.
r = 0.050 m r2 = 0.15 m
SolvingEquation(1)forEgives 1

Q 3.5 106 C
E 7.9 105 N/C

0 4 r 2 8.85 1012

2

C / Nm
2

4 0.20 m
2

ThedirectionofEis,becausethenetchargewithintheGaussiansurfaceispositive.

b.r=0.10m Gaussian surface

TheGaussiansurfaceencloses onlytheinnershell.
Thenetchargeenclosedis
r1
r
Q=1.6x106C
r2
Sincethenetchargeisnegative, E willberadially
inwardforallpointsontheGaussiansurface,and =
180forallelementsontheGaussiansurface. r1 = 0.050 m r2 = 0.15 m

SolvingEquation(1)forEgives

E
Q

1.6 106 C
1.4 106 N/C
0 4 r
2 8.85 1012 C 2 / N m 2 4 0.10 m
2

ThedirectionofEis,becausethenetchargewithintheGaussiansurfaceisnegative.

c.r=0.025m

ThenetchargeenclosedbytheGaussiansurfaceiszero.Thisimpliesthatthenetelectric
fluxiszero,sotheelectricfieldiseitheraconstantorzeroeverywherewithintheGaussian
surface. However,anelectricfielddoesnotexistwithintheGaussiansurface,because
 Chapter 18 Problems 287

there are only negative charges on the shell of radius r1, so electric field lines cannot
originatefromanyplaceonthisshell.Thus,E=0N/Cinthisregion.
______________________________________________________________________________

53. REASONINGWeuseaGaussiansurfacethatisaspherecenteredwithinthesolidsphere.
Theradius rofthissurfaceissmallerthantheradius Rofthesolidsphere.Equation18.7
givesGausslawasfollows:
Q
E cos A
1 44 2 4 43 0 (18.7)
Electric flux, E
WewilldealfirstwiththeleftsideofthisequationandevaluatetheelectricfluxE.Then
wewillevaluatethenetchargeQwithintheGaussiansurface.

SOLUTION The positive charge is Normal

spread uniformly throughout the solid
AnglebetweenE
sphere and, therefore, is spherically E
andthenormalis0
symmetric. Consequently, the electric
fieldisdirectedradiallyoutward,andfor
eachelementofarea A isperpendicular
tothesurface.Thismeansthatthe
angle between the normal to the surface and the field is 0, as the drawing shows.
Furthermore,theelectricfieldhasthesamemagnitudeeverywhereontheGaussiansurface.
Becauseoftheseconsiderations,wecanwritetheelectricfluxasfollows:

E cos A E cos 0 A E A

2
The term A is the entire area ofthespherical Gaussiansurface or4r . With this
substitution,theelectricfluxbecomes

E cos A E A E 4 r 2 (1)

Now consider thenet charge Q withinthe Gaussian surface. This chargeis the charge
densitytimesthevolume 43 r 3 encompassedbythatsurface:
qr 3
Q
q
4 R3
3
3r 3
4
R

3
1 2 3 14 2 43 (2)
Charge Volume of
density Gaussian
surface
SubstitutingEquations(1)and(2)intoEquation18.7gives

qr 3 / R 3

E 4 r 2 0
288 ELECTRIC FORCES AND ELECTRIC FIELDS

Rearrangingthisresultshowsthat
qr 3 / R3 qr
E
4 r 0
2 4 0 R 3

54. REASONING Becausethechargeis distributed uniformlyalongthestraight wire,the

electricfieldisdirectedradiallyoutward,asthefollowingendviewofthewireillustrates.
Gausssian
Long straight wire Gaussian cylinder cylinder
E

+++ + + +++
2
1 3

End view
Andbecauseofsymmetry, themagnitude oftheelectric field isthe sameatallpoints
equidistantfromthewire.InthissituationwewilluseaGaussiansurfacethatisacylinder
concentricwiththewire.Thedrawingshowsthatthiscylinderiscomposedofthreeparts,
thetwoflatends(1and3)andthecurvedwall(2).Wewillevaluatetheelectricfluxfor
thisthreepartsurfaceandthensetitequaltoQ/0(Gausslaw)tofindthemagnitudeofthe
electricfield.

SOLUTION Surfaces1and3theflatendsofthecylinderareparalleltotheelectric
field, so cos=cos90=0. Thus, there is no flux through these two surfaces:
1=3= 0 N m 2 /C .
Surface2thecurvedwalliseverywhereperpendiculartotheelectricfield E,so
cos=cos0=1. Furthermore,themagnitude E oftheelectricfieldisthesameforall
pointsonthissurface,soitcanbefactoredoutsidethesummationinEquation18.6:

2 E cos 0 A E A

TheareaAofthissurfaceisjustthecircumference2rofthecylindertimesitslengthL:
A=(2r)L.Theelectricfluxthroughtheentirecylinderis,then,

E 1 2 3 0 E 2 rL 0 E 2 rL
 Chapter 18 Problems 289

FollowingGausslaw,weset E equalto Q/0,where Q isthenetchargeinsidethe

Gaussiancylinder:E(2rL)=Q/0.TheratioQ/Listhechargeperunitlengthofthewire
andisknownasthelinearchargedensity:=Q/L.SolvingforE,wefindthat

Q/L
E
2 0 r 2 0 r
______________________________________________________________________________

55. REASONING AND SOLUTION The electric

fieldlinesmustoriginateonthepositivecharges
and terminate on the negative charge. They -3q
cannot cross one another. Furthermore, the
numberoffieldlinesbeginningorterminatingon
any charge must be proportional to the
magnitudeofthecharge. Thus,foreveryfield
line that leaves the charge +q, two field lines
must leave the charge +2q. These three lines +q +2q
mustterminateonthe3qcharge.Ifthesketch
is to have six field lines, two of them must
originateon+q,andfourofthemmustoriginate
onthecharge+2q.
______________________________________________________________________________

56. REASONING Initially,thetwospheresareneutral. Sincenegativechargeisremoved

fromthespherewhichloseselectrons,itthencarriesanetpositivecharge.Furthermore,the
neutralspheretowhichtheelectronsareaddedisthennegativelycharged.Oncethecharge
istransferred,thereexistsanelectrostaticforceoneachofthetwospheres,themagnitudeof
whichisgivenbyCoulomb'slaw(Equation18.1), F k q1 q2 / r 2 .

SOLUTION
a.Sinceeachelectroncarriesachargeof 1.60 1019 C ,theamountofnegativecharge
removedfromthefirstsphereis

1.60 1019 C
3.0 1013 electrons
1 electron
6
4.8 10 C

Thus,thefirstspherecarriesacharge+4.8 106 C,whilethesecondspherecarriesa

charge4.8106C.Themagnitudeoftheelectrostaticforcethatactsoneachsphereis,
therefore,
290 ELECTRIC FORCES AND ELECTRIC FIELDS

8.99 109 N m 2 /C2 4.8 106 C

2
k q1 q2
F 0.83 N
r2 0.50 m 2

b.Sincethespherescarrychargesofoppositesign,theforceis attractive .
______________________________________________________________________________

57. REASONINGANDSOLUTIONThe+2qofchargeinitiallyonthesphereliesentirelyon
theoutersurface.Whenthe+qchargeisplacedinsideofthesphere,thenaqchargewill
stillbeinducedontheinteriorofthesphere. Anadditional+q willappearontheouter
surface,givinganetchargeof+3q.
______________________________________________________________________________

58. REASONINGEachchargecreatesanelectricfieldatthecenterofthesquare,andthefour
fieldsmustbeaddedasvectorstoobtainthenetfield.Sincethechargesallhavethesame
magnitudeandsinceeachcornerisequidistantfromthecenterofthesquare,themagnitudes
kq
ofthefourindividualfieldsareidentical.EachisgivenbyEquation18.3as E 2 .The
r
directionsofthevariouscontributionsarenotthesame,however. Thefieldcreatedbya
positivechargepointsawayfromthecharge,whilethefieldcreatedbyanegativecharge
pointstowardthecharge.

SOLUTIONThedrawingattherightshows B+ + C
eachofthefieldcontributionsatthecenterof
thesquare(seeblackdot). Eachisdirected
alongadiagonalofthesquare.NotethatED ED

and EB point in opposite directions and,

therefore, cancel, sincethey havethe same EA
EB
magnitude. Incontrast EA and EC pointin EC
the same direction toward corner A and,
therefore,combinetogiveanetfieldthatis A + D
twicethemagnitudeof EA or EC. Inother
words,thenetfieldatthecenterofthesquare
isgivenbythefollowingvectorequation:

E E A EB EC ED EA EB EC EB EA EC 2EA

UsingEquation18.3,wefindthatthemagnitudeofthenetfieldis

kq
E 2 EA 2
r2
 Chapter 18 Problems 291

Inthisresultristhedistancefromacornertothecenterofthesquare,whichisonehalfof
thediagonaldistanced.UsingLforthelengthofasideofthesquareandtakingadvantage
ofthePythagoreantheorem,wehave r 1 d
2
1
2
L2 L2 .Withthissubstitutionforr,the
magnitudeofthenetfieldbecomes

E 2
kq

4k q


4 8.99 109 N m 2 / C2 2.4 10 12 C 54 N/C
0.040 m 2
2
L2
1
2
L2 L2

59. REASONINGANDSOLUTIONTheforceFexertedonachargeq0placedinanelectric
fieldEcanbedeterminedfromEquation18.2,thedefinitionofelectricfield( E F / q0 ).
Writingthisintermsofmagnitudes,andtakingdueeastasthepositivedirection,wehave,
solvingforthemagnitudeFoftheforce,

F q0 E (3.0 10 5 C)(15 000 N/C)= 0.45 N

Sincethechargeispositive,thedirectionoftheforceisthesameasthedirectionofthe
electricfield,namely, due east .
______________________________________________________________________________

60. REASONING Thedrawingattheright

shows the setup. The force on the +q 0.50 m +q +2q
chargeattheoriginduetotheother+q
+q d
charge is given by Coulombs law
(Equation18.1),asistheforceduetothe
+2qcharge.Thesetwoforcespointtothe
left,sinceeachisrepulsive.Thesumof
thetwoistwicetheforceonthe+qchargeattheoriginduetotheother+qchargealone.

SOLUTIONApplyingCoulombslaw,wehave

kq q k 2q q kq q
2
0.50 m
1 4 2 43
2
d 2
1 44 2 4 43
0.50 m
2
1 4 44 2 4 4 43
Force due to +q Force due to +2q Twice the force due to
charge at x 0.50 m charge at x d + q charge at x 0.50 m

Rearrangingthisresultandsolvingfordgive
292 ELECTRIC FORCES AND ELECTRIC FIELDS

k 2q q kq q
d 2 2 0.50 m
2
or or d 0.71 m
d 2
0.50 m 2

Werejectthenegativeroot,becauseanegativevaluefordwouldlocatethe+2qchargeto
theleftoftheorigin.Then,thetwoforcesactingonthechargeattheoriginwouldhave
differentdirections,contrarytothestatementoftheproblem.Therefore,the+2qchargeis
locatedatapositionof x 0.71 m .
______________________________________________________________________________

61. REASONING AND SOLUTION The net y

electrostaticforceoncharge3at x 3.0 m isthe
1
vectorsumoftheforcesoncharge3duetotheother +3.0 m +18 C
twocharges,1and2. AccordingtoCoulomb'slaw
(Equation18.1),themagnitudeoftheforceoncharge = 45
3duetocharge1is +45 C
12 C
k q1 q3 3
F13 0 2 x
2
r13 +3.0 m

Figure1
wherethedistancebetweencharges1and3isr .
13

AccordingtothePythagoreantheorem, r132 x 2 y 2 .Therefore,

F13
8.99 109 N m 2 / C2 18 10 6 C 45 10 6 C
0.405 N
3.0 m 2 3.0 m 2

Charges1and3areequidistantfromtheorigin,sothat 45 (seeFigure1). Since

charges1and3arebothpositive,theforceoncharge3duetocharge1isrepulsiveand
alongthelinethatconnectsthem,asshowninFigure2.ThecomponentsofF13are:

F13 x F13 cos 45 0.286 N and F13 y F13 sin 45 0.286 N

 Chapter 18 Problems 293

The second force on charge 3 is the attractive force y

(opposite signs) due to its interaction with charge 2
located at the origin. The magnitude of the force on 1
charge3duetocharge2is,accordingtoCoulomb'slaw,

k q2 q3 k q2 q3 45
F23 2
2 3
r23 x2 0 45
x
F23

8.99 109 N m 2 / C2 12 106 C 45 106 C FF1313
Figure2
3.0 m 2
0.539 N

Sincecharges2and3haveoppositesigns,theyattracteachother,andcharge3experiences
aforcetotheleftasshowninFigure2.Takingupandtotherightasthepositivedirections,
wehave
F3 x F13 x F23 x 0.286 N 0.539 N 0.253 N

F3 y F13 y 0.286 N

UsingthePythagoreantheorem,wefindthemagnitudeofF3to
be 0.253 N

F3 F32x F32y (0.253 N)2 (0.286 N)2 0.38 N 0.286 N
F3
Thedirectionof F3 relativetothex axisisspecifiedbythe
angle,where
Figure3
0.286 N
tan 1 49 below the x axis
0.253 N
______________________________________________________________________________
294 ELECTRIC FORCES AND ELECTRIC FIELDS

62. REASONING Thedrawingattherightshowstheset +z

up. Here,theelectricfield E pointsalongthe+y axis
andappliesaforceof+Ftothe+qchargeandaforceof F q
F to the q charge, where q=8.0C denotes the
magnitude of each charge. Each force has the same +y
magnitude of F=E q , according to Equation18.2. E
The torque is measured as discussed in Section 9.1. +q
AccordingtoEquation9.1,thetorqueproducedbyeach
+F
forcehasamagnitude givenbythemagnitude ofthe
force times the lever arm, which is the perpendicular +x
distancebetweenthepointofapplicationoftheforce
andtheaxisofrotation.Inthedrawingthezaxisisthe
axisofrotationandismidwaybetweentheendsofthe
rod. Thus,theleverarmforeachforceishalfthelength L oftherodor L/2,andthe
magnitudeofthetorqueproducedbyeachforceis=(E q )(L/2).

SOLUTIONThe+FandtheFforceeachcausetherodtorotateinthesamesenseabout
thezaxis.Therefore,thetorquesfromtheseforcesreinforceoneanother.Using =(E q )
(L/2)foreachtorque,wefindthatthemagnitudeofthenettorqueis

L
2
L

E q E q E q L 5.0 103 N/C 8.0 106 C 4.0 m 0.16 N m
2
______________________________________________________________________________

63. REASONINGANDSOLUTIONThemagnitudeoftheforceonq1duetoq2isgivenby
Coulomb'slaw:
k q1 q2
F12 (1)
r12 2

Themagnitudeoftheforceonq1duetotheelectricfieldofthecapacitorisgivenby

F1C q1 EC q1 (2)

0

EquatingtherighthandsidesofEquations(1)and(2)abovegives

k q1 q2
q1
r12 2
0
Solvingforr12gives
 Chapter 18 Problems 295

0 k q2
r12 =

[8.85 1012 C2 /(N m 2 )](8.99 109 N m 2 /C 2 )(5.00 10 6 C)

= 2
= 5.53 10 2 m
(1.30 10 C/m )
______________________________________________________________________________

64. REASONINGANDSOLUTION
a. Since the spring is stretched, the electric force must be a repulsion. Therefore, the
chargesmustbe.

b. TheforceneededtostretchthespringisF=kspringx,whichisprovidedbytheelectric
forcegivenbyCoulombslaw.
2
kq
kspring x
r2

kspring xr 2 220 N/m 0.020 m 0.34 m 2

q 7.5 10 6 C
k 8.99 10 N m / C 9 2 2

______________________________________________________________________________

65. REASONINGTheelectricfieldisgivenbyEquation18.2astheforceFthatactsonatest
chargeq0,dividedbyq0.Althoughtheforceisnotknown,theaccelerationandmassofthe
chargedobjectaregiven.Therefore,wecanuseNewtonssecondlawtodeterminetheforce
asthemasstimestheaccelerationandthendeterminethemagnitudeofthefielddirectly
fromEquation18.2.Theforcehasthesamedirectionastheacceleration.Thedirectionof
thefield,however,isinthedirectionoppositetothatoftheaccelerationandforce.Thisis
becausetheobjectcarriesanegativecharge,whilethefieldhasthesamedirectionasthe
forceactingonapositivetestcharge.

SOLUTIONAccordingtoEquation18.2,themagnitudeoftheelectricfieldis

F
E
q0

According to Newtons second law, the net force acting on an object of mass m and
accelerationaisF=ma.Here,thenetforceistheelectrostaticforceF,sincethatforce
aloneactsontheobject.Thus,themagnitudeoftheelectricfieldis

E
F

ma


3.0 103 kg 2.5 103 m/s 2
2.2 105 N/C

6
q0 q0 34 10 C
296 ELECTRIC FORCES AND ELECTRIC FIELDS

Thedirectionofthisfieldisoppositetothedirectionoftheacceleration. Thus,thefield
pointsalongthexaxis.

66. REASONING ThemagnitudeEoftheelectricfieldisdefinedasthemagnitudeFofthe

electricforceexertedonasmalltestchargedividedbythemagnitudeofthecharge:E=F/
q .AccordingtoNewtonssecondlaw,Equation4.2,thenetforceactingonanobjectis
equaltoitsmass m timesitsacceleration a. Sincethereisonlyoneforceactingonthe
object,itisthenetforce.Thus,themagnitudeoftheelectricfieldcanbewrittenas

F ma
E
q q

Theaccelerationisrelatedtotheinitialandfinalvelocities,v0andv,andthetimetthrough
v v0
Equation2.4,as a .SubstitutingthisexpressionforaintotheoneaboveforEgives
t
v v0
m
ma t m v v0
E
q q qt

SOLUTIONThemagnitudeEoftheelectricfieldis

E
m v v0

9.0 105 kg 2.0 103 m /s 0 m /s
2.5 104 N /C
qt 7.5 106 C 0.96 s
______________________________________________________________________________

67. REASONINGANDSOLUTION Beforethesphereshavebeencharged,theyexertno

forcesoneachother. Afterthespheresarecharged,eachsphereexperiencesarepulsive
forceFduetothechargeontheothersphere,accordingtoCoulomb'slaw(Equation18.1).
Therefore,sinceeachspherehasthesamecharge,themagnitudeFofthisforceis

k q1 q2 (8.99 109 N m 2 /C2 )(1.60 106 C) 2

F 2.30 N
r2 (0.100 m)2
 Chapter 18 Problems 297

Therepulsiveforceoneachspherecompressesthespringtowhichitisattached. The
magnitudeofthisrepulsiveforceisrelatedtotheamountofcompressionbyEquation10.1:
F kx .Therefore,solvingfork,wefind

F 2.30 N
k 92.0 N/m
x 0.0250 m
______________________________________________________________________________

68. REASONINGANDSOLUTION
a. Tofindthechargeoneachballwefirstneedtodeterminetheelectricforceactingon
eachball.Thiscanbedonebynotingthateachthreadmakesanangleof18withrespectto
thevertical.

Fe=mgtan18=(8.0104kg)(9.80m/s2)tan18=2.547103N

Wealsoknowthat
2
k q1 q2 kq
Fe
r2 r2

wherer=2(0.25m)sin18=0.1545m.Now

Fe 2.547 10 3 N
q r 0.1545 m 8.2 10 8 C
k 8.99 10 N m / C
9 2 2

b. Thetensionisduetothecombinationoftheweightoftheballandtheelectricforce,the
twobeingperpendiculartooneanother.Thetensionistherefore,

2 2
T mg 2 Fe2
8.0 10 4 kg 9.80 m/s 2 2.547 10 3 N 8.2 10 3 N



______________________________________________________________________________

69. CONCEPTQUESTIONS
a. Theconservationofelectricchargestatesthat,duringanyprocess,thenetelectriccharge
ofanisolatedsystemremainsconstant(isconserved).Therefore,thenetcharge(q1+q2)
onthetwospheresbeforetheytouchisthesameasthenetchargeaftertheytouch.

b. Whenthetwoidenticalspherestouch,thenetchargewillspreadoutequallyoverbothof
them.Whenthespheresareseparated,thechargeoneachisthesame.

SOLUTION
298 ELECTRIC FORCES AND ELECTRIC FIELDS

a. Sincethefinalchargeoneachsphereis+5.0C,thefinalnetchargeonbothspheresis
2(+5.0C)=+10.0C.Theinitialnetchargemustalsobe+10.0C.Theonlyspheres
whosenetchargeis+10.0Care

B (qB = 2.0 C) and D (qD = +12.0 C) .

b. Sincethefinalchargeoneachsphereis+3.0C,thefinalnetchargeonthethreespheres
is3(+3.0C)=+9.0C.Theinitialnetchargemustalsobe+9.0C.Theonlyspheres
whosenetchargeis+9.0Care

A (qA = 8.0 C), C (qC = +5.0 C) and D (qD = +12.0 C) .

c. Sincethefinalchargeonagivensphereinpart(b)is+3.0 C,wewouldhavetoadd
3.0Ctomakeitelectricallyneutral.Sincethechargeonanelectronis1.61019C,
thenumberofelectronsthatwouldhavetobeaddedis

3.0 106 C
Number of electrons 19
1.9 1013
1.6 10 C
______________________________________________________________________________

70. CONCEPTQUESTIONS
a. Theelectricalforcethateachchargeexertsonthemiddlechargeisshowninthedrawing
below.F21istheforceexertedon2by1,andF23istheforceexertedon2by3.Eachforce
hasthesamemagnitude,becausethechargeshavethesamemagnitudeandthedistancesare
equal.

q F21 +q +q +q F23 +q F21 +q +q F21 q

1 F23 2 3 1 2 3 1 2
F23
(a) (b)
3
+q

(c)

b. ThenetelectricforceFthatactson2isshowninthediagramsbelow.

F23 F21 F23 F21 F23

F=0N F F21
F
(a) (b) (c)
 Chapter 18 Problems 299

Itcanbeseenfromthediagramsthatthelargestelectricforceoccursin(a),followedby(c),
andthenby(b).

SOLUTION The magnitude F21 of the force exerted on 2 by 1 is the same as the
magnitudeF23oftheforceexertedon2by3,sincethemagnitudesofthechargesarethe
sameandthedistancesarethesame.Coulombslawgivesthemagnitudesas

kq q
F21 F23
r2

8.99 109 N m 2 /C 2 8.6 10 6 C 8.6 10 6 C
4.6 104 N
3.8 103 m
2

Inpart(a)ofthedrawing,bothF21andF23pointtotheleft,sothenetforcehasamagnitude
of

F 2 F12 2 4.6 104 N 9.2 104 N

Inpart(b)ofthedrawing,F21andF23pointinoppositedirections,sothenetforcehasa
magnitudeof 0 N .

Inpart(c)themagnitudecanbeobtainedfromthePythagoreantheorem:

4.6 104 N 4.6 104 N

2 2 2 2
F F21 F23 6.5 104 N
______________________________________________________________________________

71. CONCEPTQUESTIONS
a. Thegravitationalforceisanattractiveforce.Toneutralizethisforce,theelectricalforce
mustbearepulsiveforce.Therefore,thechargesmustbothbepositiveorbothnegative.

b. Newtonslawofgravitation,Equation4.3,states thatthegravitationalforcedepends
inverselyonthesquareofthedistancebetweentheearthandthemoon.Coulombslaw,
Equation18.1statesthattheelectricalforcealsodependsinverselyonthesquareofthe
distance.Whenthesetwoforcesareaddedtogethertogiveazeronetforce,thedistance
canbealgebraicallyeliminated. Thus,wedonotneedtoknowthedistancebetweenthe
twobodies.

SOLUTION Since the repulsive electrical force neutralizes the attractive gravitational
force,themagnitudesofthetwoforcesareequal:
300 ELECTRIC FORCES AND ELECTRIC FIELDS

kq q GM e M m

r 243
14 2 r 2 43
1 42
Electrical Gravitational
force, force,
Equation 18.1 Equation 4.3

Solvingthisequationforthemagnitude q ofthechargeoneitherbody,wefind

11 N m
2

GM e M m
6.67 10 2
kg

5.98 1024 kg 7.35 1022 kg
q 2
5.71 1013 C
k Nm
8.99 109
C2
______________________________________________________________________________

72. CONCEPTQUESTIONS
a. Themagnitudeoftheelectricfieldisobtainedbydividingthemagnitudeoftheforce
(obtainedfromthemeter)bythemagnitudeofthecharge.Sincethechargeispositive,the
directionoftheelectricfieldisthesameasthedirectionoftheforce.

b. Asinpart(a),themagnitudeoftheelectricfieldisobtainedbydividingthemagnitudeof
the force by the magnitude of the charge. Since the charge is negative, however, the
directionoftheforce(asindicatedbythemeter)isoppositetothedirectionoftheelectric
field.Thus,thedirectionoftheelectricfieldisoppositetothatoftheforce.

SOLUTION
a. AccordingtoEquation18.2,themagnitudeoftheelectricfieldis

F 40.0 N
E 2.0 N /C
q 20.0 C

AsmentionedintheanswertoConceptQuestion(a),thedirectionoftheelectricfieldisthe
sameasthedirectionoftheforce,or due east .

b. Themagnitudeoftheelectricfieldis

F 20.0 N
E 2.0 N /C
q 10.0 C

Sincethechargeisnegative,thedirectionoftheelectricfieldisoppositetothedirectionof
theforce,or due east .Thus,theelectricfieldsinparts(a)and(b)arethesame.
 Chapter 18 Problems 301

______________________________________________________________________________

73. CONCEPTQUESTION
Part(a)ofthedrawinggiveninthetext.Theelectricfieldproducedbyachargepoints
awayfromapositivechargeandtowardanegativecharge.Therefore,theelectricfieldE+2
producedbythe+2.0 Cchargepointsawayfromit,andtheelectricfields E3 and E5
producedbythe 3.0 Cand 5.0 Cchargespointtowardthem(seethedrawingthat
follows). The magnitude of the electric field produced by a point charge is given by
2
Equation18.3asE=k q /r .Sincethedistancefromeachchargetotheoriginisthesame,
themagnitudeoftheelectricfieldisproportionalonlytothemagnitude q ofthecharge.
Thus,the x component Ex ofthenetelectricfieldisproportional to5.0 C(2.0 C+
3.0C).Sinceonlyoneofthechargesproducesanelectricfieldinthe ydirection,they
component Ey ofthenetelectricfieldisproportionaltothemagnitudeofthischarge,or
5.0C.Thus,thexandycomponentsareequal,asindicatedintherightdrawing,where
thenetelectricfieldEisalsoshown.

5.0 C
E5 E
Ey
+2.0 C E+2 3.0 C
Ex
E3

Part(b)ofthedrawinggiveninthetext. Usingthesameargumentsasearlier,wefind
thattheelectricfieldsproducedbythefourchargesareshownintheleftdrawing.These
fieldsalsoproducethesamenetelectricfield E asbefore,asindicatedinthefollowing
drawing.

+1.0 C
E+6
E
E1 Ey
+4.0 C 1.0 C

E+4 Ex
E+1

+6.0 C
302 ELECTRIC FORCES AND ELECTRIC FIELDS

SOLUTION
Part(a)ofthedrawinggiveninthetext.Thenetelectricfieldinthexdirectionis

Ex
8.99 109 N m 2 /C 2 2.0 10 6 C 8.99 109 N m 2 /C 2 3.0 10 6 C

0.061 m 2 0.061 m 2

1.2 107 N /C

Thenetelectricfieldintheydirectionis

Ey
8.99 109 N m 2 /C2 5.0 10 6 C
1.2 107 N /C
0.061 m 2

Themagnitudeofthenetelectricfieldis

1.2 107 N /C 1.2 107 N /C

2 2
E E x2 E y2 1.7 107 N /C

Part(b)ofthedrawinggiveninthetext. Themagnitudeofthenetelectricfieldisthe
sameasdeterminedforpart(a).
______________________________________________________________________________

74. CONCEPTQUESTIONS
a. Sincetheprotonandtheelectronhavethesamechargemagnitude e,theelectricforce
thateachexperienceshasthesamemagnitude.Thedirectionsaredifferent,however.The
proton,beingpositive,experiencesaforceinthesamedirectionastheelectricfield(due
east).Theelectron,beingnegative,experiencesaforceintheoppositedirection(duewest).

b. Newtonssecondlawindicatesthatthedirectionoftheaccelerationisthesameasthe
directionofthenetforce,which,inthiscase,istheelectricforce.Theprotonsacceleration
isinthesamedirection(dueeast)astheelectricfield.Theelectronsaccelerationisinthe
oppositedirection(duewest)astheelectricfield.

c. Newtonssecondlawindicates thatthemagnitude oftheaccelerationisequaltothe

magnitudeoftheelectricforcedividedbythemass. Althoughtheprotonandelectron
experience the same force magnitude, they have different masses. Thus, they have
accelerationsofdifferentmagnitudes.

SOLUTION AccordingtoNewtonssecondlaw,Equation4.2,theacceleration a ofan

objectisequaltothenetforcedividedbytheobjectsmassm.Inthissituationthereisonly
oneforce,theelectric force F,soitisthenetforce. AccordingtoEquation18.2,the
 Chapter 18 Problems 303

magnitudeoftheelectricforceisequaltotheproductofthemagnitudeofthechargeandthe
magnitudeoftheelectricfield,orF= q0 E.Thus,themagnitudeoftheaccelerationcanbe
writtenas

F q0 E
a
m m

Themagnitudeoftheaccelerationoftheelectronis

a
q0 E

1.60 1019 C 8.0 104 N /C
1.4 1016 m /s2
31
m 9.11 10 kg

Themagnitudeoftheaccelerationoftheprotonis

a
q0 E

1.60 1019 C 8.0 104 N /C
7.7 1012 m /s 2
27
m 1.67 10 kg
______________________________________________________________________________

75. CONCEPTQUESTIONS
a.Thedrawingattherightshowstheforcesthat FBC
actonthechargesateachcorner. Forexample, +
FABistheforceexertedonthechargeatcornerA B
bythechargeatcornerB. Thedirectionsofthe FBA
forcesareconsistentwiththefactthatlikecharges
repelandunlikechargesattract. Coulombslaw
indicates that all of the forces shown have the FAB
2
samemagnitude,namely, F k q / L2 ,where q +
isthemagnitudeofeachofthechargesandListhe A C
FAC FCA
lengthofeachsideoftheequilateraltriangle.The
FCB
magnitudeisthesameforeachforce,because q
andLarethesameforeachpairofcharges.

b. Thenetforceactingateachcorneristhesumofthetwoforcevectorsshowninthe
drawing,andthenetforceisgreatestatcornerA.Thisisbecausetheanglebetweenthetwo
vectorsatAis60. Withtheanglelessthan90,thetwovectorspartiallyreinforceone
another. Incomparison,theanglesbetweenthevectorsatcornersBandCareboth120,
whichmeansthatthevectorsatthosecornerspartiallyoffsetoneanother.

c.ThenetforcesactingatcornersBandChavethesamemagnitude,sincethemagnitudes
oftheindividualvectorsarethesameandtheanglesbetweenthevectorsatbothBandCare
304 ELECTRIC FORCES AND ELECTRIC FIELDS

thesame(120).Thus,vectoradditionbyeitherthetailtoheadmethod(seeSection1.6)or
the component method (see Section 1.8) will give resultant vectors that have different
directionsbutthesamemagnitude.Themagnitudeofthenetforceisthesmallestatthese
twocorners.

SOLUTION Aspointedoutintheanswer +y
toConceptQuestion(a),themagnitudeof
anyindividualforcevectoris F k q 2 / L2 . FAB
Withthisinmind,weapplythecomponent
methodforvectoradditiontotheforcesat FABsin60.0
cornerA,whichareshowninthedrawingat
the right, together with the appropriate FAC
60.0
components.Thexcomponent Fx andthe
+x
A
ycomponent Fy ofthenetforceare FABcos60.0

Fx A FAB cos 60.0 FAC F cos 60.0 1

Fy A FAB sin 60.0 F sin 60.0
wherewehaveusedthefactthat FAB FAC F .ThePythagoreantheoremindicatesthat
themagnitudeofthenetforceatcornerAis

F A Fx A Fy A
2 2
F 2 cos 60.0 1 F sin 60.0
2 2

2
q
F cos 60.0 1 2
sin 60.0 k
2
2 cos 60.0 1 2 sin 60.0 2
L

5.0 106 C
2

8.99 109 N m 2 / C 2 0.030 m 2 cos 60.0 1 2 sin 60.0 2

430 N
 Chapter 18 Problems 305

Wenowapplythecomponentmethod +y
FBC
for vector addition to the forces at
cornerB. Theseforces,togetherwith
theappropriatecomponentsareshown
inthedrawingattheright. Wenote 60.0
immediately that the two vertical FBCcos60.0
components cancel, since they have +x
oppositedirections.Thetwohorizontal B
components,incontrast,reinforcesince FBAcos60.0
theyhavethesamedirection.Thus,we
havethefollowingcomponentsforthe
netforceatcornerB:
FBA

Fx B FBC cos 60.0 FBA cos 60.0 2F cos 60.0

Fy B 0
wherewehaveusedthefactthat FBC FBA F .ThePythagoreantheoremindicatesthat
themagnitudeofthenetforceatcornerBis

F B Fx B Fy B 2 F cos 60.0 2 0 2 2 F cos 60.0

2 2

5.0 106 C
2
2

q
2k cos 60.0 2 8.99 109 N m 2 / C 2 cos 60.0
L 2
0.030 m 2
250 N

AsdiscussedintheanswertoConceptQuestion(c),themagnitudeofthenetforceactingon
the charge at corner C is the same as that acting on the charge at corner B, so
F C 250 N .

Thesevaluesof430and250NforthemagnitudesofthenetforcesatcornersAandB,
respectively,areconsistentwithouranswerstotheConceptQuestions.

76. CONCEPTQUESTIONS
a. Thedrawingattherightshowsthe q2 +q1
electricfieldsatpointPduetothetwo P E2
+ d d
charges in the case that the second E1
chargeispositive.Thepresenceofthe
306 ELECTRIC FORCES AND ELECTRIC FIELDS

secondchargecausesthemagnitudeofthenetfieldatPtobetwiceasgreatasitiswhen
onlythefirstchargeispresent.Sincebothfieldshavethesamedirection,themagnitudeof
E2must,then,bethesameasthemagnitudeofE1.Butthesecondchargeisfurtheraway
frompointPthanisthefirstcharge,andmoredistantchargescreateweakerfields.Tooffset
theweaknessthatcomesfromthegreaterdistance,thesecondchargemusthaveagreater
magnitudethanthatofthefirstcharge.

b. Thedrawingattherightshowsthe q2 +q1 E2 P E1
electricfieldsatpointPduetothetwo
d d
charges in the case that the second
chargeisnegative.Thepresenceofthe
secondchargecausesthemagnitudeofthenetfieldatPtobetwiceasgreatasitiswhen
onlythefirstchargeispresent.Sincethefieldsnowhaveoppositedirections,themagnitude
ofE2mustbegreaterthanthemagnitudeofE1.ThisisnecessarysothatE2canoffsetE1
andstillleadtoanetfieldwithtwicethemagnitudeasE1.TocreatethisgreaterfieldE2,the
secondchargemustnowhaveagreatermagnitudethanitdidinquestion(a).

SOLUTION
a. The magnitudes of the field contributions of each charge are given according to
kq
Equation18.3as E 2 .Withq2present,themagnitudeofthenetfieldatPistwicewhat
r
itiswhenonlyq1ispresent.UsingEquation18.3,wecanexpressthisfactasfollows:
k q1 k q2 k q1 k q2 k q1
2 or =
d 2
2d 2
d 2
2d 2
d2

Solvingfor q2 gives
q2 4 q1 4 0.50 C 2.0 C

Thus,thesecondchargeis q2=+2.0C,whichisconsistentwithouranswertoConcept
Question(a).

b.Nowthatthesecondchargeisnegative,wehave

k q2 k q1 k q1 k q2 k q1
2 or =3
2d 2 d2 d2 2d 2 d2

Solvingfor q2 gives
q2 12 q1 12 0.50 C 6.0 C
 Chapter 18 Problems 307

Thus,thesecondchargeis q2=6.0C,whichisconsistentwithouranswertoConcept
Question(b).