Fundamentals of Physics Extended (10th Edition)

Published by Wiley
ISBN 10: 1-11823-072-8
ISBN 13: 978-1-11823-072-5

Chapter 21 - Coulomb's Law - Problems - Page 625: 12a

Answer

$Q = -83~\mu C$

Work Step by Step

If the initial acceleration of particle 3 is in the positive direction of the x axis, then the vertical components of the forces on particle 3 due to the other two particles must cancel out. We can find the magnitude of $Q_2$: $\frac{\vert Q_1 \vert~\vert~Q_3 \vert}{4\pi~\epsilon_0~r_1^2}sin ~\theta_1 = \frac{\vert Q_2 \vert~\vert~Q_3 \vert}{4\pi~\epsilon_0~r_2^2}sin ~\theta_2$ $\frac{\vert Q_1 \vert}{r_1^2}sin ~\theta_1 = \frac{\vert Q_2 \vert}{r_2^2}sin ~\theta_2$ $\vert Q_2 \vert = \frac{r_2^2~sin ~\theta_1}{r_1^2~sin~\theta_2}~Q_1$ $\vert Q_2 \vert = \frac{(\sqrt{13}~cm)^2~(2.0/\sqrt{8.0})}{(\sqrt{8.0}~cm^2~(2.0/\sqrt{13})}~40~\mu C$ $\vert Q_2 \vert = 83~\mu C$ If $Q_1$ and $Q_2$ have the same sign, then the vertical component of the net force on particle 3 can not be zero. Since $Q_1$ and $Q_2$ must have opposite signs, then $Q_2 = -83~\mu C$ That is, $~~Q = -83~\mu C$
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