Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach with Modern Physics (3rd Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321740904
ISBN 13: 978-0-32174-090-8

Chapter 28 - The Electric Potential - Exercises and Problems - Page 836: 60

Answer

$476\;\rm V$

Work Step by Step

We know that the electric potential of a charged sphere on its surface is given by $$V =\dfrac{1}{4\pi \epsilon_0}\dfrac{Q}{R}\tag 1$$ So we need to find the charge and the radius of the final drop [the merge of two drops]. The charge is conserved, so the final charge of the final drop is $$Q=Q_1+Q_2=0.1 +0.1$$ $$Q=\bf 0.2\;\rm nC\tag 2$$ We know that the two mercury drops have the same potential on their surfaces. We also know that $$V_1=V_2=300$$ $$\dfrac{1}{4\pi \epsilon_0}\dfrac{Q_1}{R_1}=\dfrac{1}{4\pi \epsilon_0}\dfrac{Q_2}{R_2}$$ and since $Q_1=Q_2$, so $R_1=R_2$ Hence, $$\dfrac{1}{4\pi \epsilon_0}\dfrac{Q_1}{R_1}=V_1$$ $$R_1=R_2=\dfrac{1}{4\pi \epsilon_0}\dfrac{Q_1}{V_1}\tag 3$$ Now we need to find the radius of the final drop, the volume of the final drops is given by $${\rm V}_{net}={\rm V}_1+{\rm V}_2=\dfrac{4\pi R^3}{3}$$ $$ \dfrac{4\pi R_1^3}{3}+\dfrac{4\pi R_1^3}{3}=\dfrac{4\pi R^3}{3}$$ Hence, $$R^3=2R_1^3$$ $$R=\sqrt[3]{2} R_1$$ Plug from (3), $$R=\dfrac{1}{4\pi \epsilon_0}\dfrac{\sqrt[3]{2} Q_1}{V_1} $$ Plug the known; $$R=(9\times 10^9)\dfrac{\sqrt[3]{2} (0.1\times 10^{-9})}{300} $$ $$R=\bf 3.78\times 10^{-3}\;\rm m\tag 4$$ Plug from (4) and (2) into (1), $$V =\dfrac{1}{4\pi \epsilon_0}\dfrac{0.2\times 10^{-9}}{3.78\times 10^{-3}} $$ $$V =(9\times 10^9)\dfrac{0.2\times 10^{-9}}{3.78\times 10^{-3}} $$ $$V=\color{red}{\bf 476}\;\rm V$$
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