A small, initially uncharged conducting sphere of radius is mounted on an insulating…
PHYSICS · Multi-part · AP · Physics 2: Algebra-based · Electric Force Field and Potential · Electric Force Field and Potential
Problem
A small, initially uncharged conducting sphere of radius 2.0cm is mounted on an insulating stand. A positively charged glass rod is brought into contact with the sphere. Before contact, the rod carries a net charge of +6.0μC; afterward, the rod’s charge is +2.0μC. The rod is then removed to a large distance.
(1) Determine the net charge that the conducting sphere acquires as a result of the contact with the rod. State the sign of the charge.
(2) Immediately after the rod is removed, describe where the excess charge resides on the conducting sphere. Explain your reasoning.
(3) The charged sphere is next touched momentarily to an identical, initially neutral conducting sphere that is also on an insulating stand. After they are separated and placed 5.0cm apart center-to-center, determine the magnitude and sign of the net charge on each sphere.
(4) Calculate the magnitude of the electrostatic force that one sphere exerts on the other after separation. Express your answer in newtons.