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 627: 35a

Answer

The net electrostatic force on the $CL^{-}$ ion due to the eight $Cs^{+}$ ions is zero.

Work Step by Step

By symmetry, the electrostatic forces on the $CL^{-}$ ion due to two $Cs^{+}$ ions in opposite corners of the cube cancel out. For every $Cs^{+}$ ion, there is another $Cs^{+}$ ion in the opposite corner. Therefore, the net electrostatic force on the $CL^{-}$ ion due to the eight $Cs^{+}$ ions is zero.
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