Electricity: Static Electricity
Static Electricity: Audio Guided Solution
Problem Set SE8, Question 1:
Two 5.2 kg bowling balls are placed at the bottom of a vertical cylinder. Charge is added to each ball until they repel with enough force to separate the two balls by a distance of 8.0 cm. Assuming the two bowling balls are charged positively and equally, determine the amount of charge (in Coulombs) added to each individual ball.
Audio Guided Solution
Habits of an Effective Problem Solver
An effective problem solver by habit approaches a physics problem in a manner that reflects a collection of disciplined habits. An effective problem-solver...
- ... reads the problem carefully and develops a mental picture of the physical situation. If necessary, sketches a simple diagram of the physical situation to help visualize it.
- ... identifies the known and unknown quantities; records them in an organized manner. A diagram is a great place to record such information. Equates given values to the symbols used to represent the corresponding quantity - e.g., Q1 = 2.4 μC; Q2 = 3.8 μC; d = 1.8 m; Felect = ???.
- ... uses physics formulas and conceptual reasoning to plot a strategy to solve for the unknown quantity.
- ... identifies the appropriate formula(s) to use.
- ... performs substitutions and algebraic manipulations in order to solve for the unknown quantity.
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