A tiny glass sphere of mass carries a charge of

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

Problem

A tiny glass sphere of mass

2.0\,\text{g}

carries a charge of

+1.5\,\mu\text{C}

. A point charge of

-3.0\,\mu\text{C}

is fixed in space. The sphere is held at rest at a distance of

0.80\,\text{m}

from the fixed charge and then released. Ignore all forces except those between the two charges. Constant:

k = 8.99\times10^{9}\,\text{N}\cdot\text{m}^2/\text{C}^2

. (a) Calculate the change in electric potential energy of the system as the sphere moves from

0.80\,\text{m}

0.30\,\text{m}

from the fixed charge. (b) Determine the speed of the sphere when it is

0.30\,\text{m}

away from the fixed charge. (c) Identify the direction of the sphere’s acceleration at every point in its path and justify your answer in terms of the interaction between the charges.

Related theory

Energy Conservation
Electrostatic Potential Energy
Electric Potential
Coulomb's Law
Potential energy of a system of charges
Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance

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