(Direct numerical comparison of two situations) Two small conducting spheres carry…

PHYSICS · Multi-part · A Level · Physics · Fields and their consequences · Fields and their consequences

Problem

(Direct numerical comparison of two situations) Two small conducting spheres carry point charges

+2\,\mu\text{C}

and

-3\,\mu\text{C}

respectively and are kept

0.20\,\text{m}

apart in air. (i) Calculate the magnitude of the electrostatic force acting between the spheres. (ii) The charges on the spheres are now changed to

+1\,\mu\text{C}

and

+1\,\mu\text{C}

, while the separation is increased to

0.30\,\text{m}

. Calculate the new force between them. (iii) Determine the ratio of the force obtained in part (ii) to that obtained in part (i).