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ssm Consider three identical metal spheres, A, B, and C. Sphere A carries a charge of \(+5 q .\) Sphere \(\mathrm{B}\) carries a charge of \(-q .\) Sphere \(\mathrm{C}\) carries no net charge. Spheres \(A\) and \(B\) are touched together and then separated. Sphere \(C\) is then touched to sphere \(A\) and separated from it. Last, sphere \(C\) is touched to sphere \(\mathrm{B}\) and separated from it. (a) How much charge ends up on sphere \(\mathrm{C} ?\) What is the total charge on the three spheres (b) before they are allowed to touch each other and (c) after they have touched?

Short Answer

Expert verified
(a) Sphere C ends up with a charge of \(+1.5q\). (b) Total initial charge is \(+4q\). (c) Total final charge is \(+4q\).

Step by step solution

01

Calculate charge after touching spheres A and B

When two conductors touch, they share charge equally. Initially, sphere A has a charge of \(+5q\) and sphere B has \(-q\). The total charge when spheres A and B touch is \(+5q - q = +4q\). After touching, the charge is shared equally, so each sphere gets \(\frac{+4q}{2} = +2q\). So, sphere A and sphere B each have a charge of \(+2q\).
02

Calculate charge after sphere C touches sphere A

Now sphere C, initially neutral (charge = 0), touches sphere A, which carries \(+2q\). The total charge now is \(+2q + 0 = +2q\). It will again be shared equally between sphere A and sphere C, so each gets \(\frac{+2q}{2} = +q\). Sphere A and sphere C each have \(+q\).
03

Calculate charge after sphere C touches sphere B

Now sphere C, charged \(+q\), touches sphere B, which also has \(+2q\). The total charge in this system is \(+q + 2q = +3q\), which is shared equally. Therefore, each sphere gets \(\frac{+3q}{2} = +1.5q\). So, after touching, both sphere B and sphere C have \(+1.5q\).
04

Calculate initial total charge

The initial charge of the system before any spheres touch is calculated by adding up all the individual charges: \((+5q) + (-q) + 0 = +4q\).
05

Verify total charge after all interactions

After all interactions, we calculate the final total charge: sphere A has \(+q\), sphere B has \(+1.5q\), and sphere C has \(+1.5q\). Thus, the total charge is \(+q + 1.5q + 1.5q = +4q\). This confirms conservation of charge.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Charge Distribution
Understanding charge distribution is crucial when dealing with interacting charged objects. When two conductors, such as metal spheres, come into contact, they exchange charge until they reach equilibrium. This equilibrium is characterized by an even distribution of the total charge between the two objects. In our problem, when spheres A and B touch, their combined charge is spread equally between them.

Initially, sphere A starts with a charge of \(+5q\), while B has \(-q\), making the total charge \(+4q\) when they touch. After this contact, the charges redistribute evenly, giving both spheres \(+2q\) each. This is a fundamental characteristic of conductors, as they aim to minimize energy by distributing charge evenly. Charge distribution relies on the principle of conservation of charge, ensuring that no charge is lost or created during these interactions. It's a fundamental principle of physics crucial for calculations involving electrical interactions.
  • Equilibrium means equal charge distribution.
  • Conductors spread charge evenly when in contact.
  • Conservation of charge is a guiding principle.
Metal Spheres
Metal spheres, due to their conductive nature, serve as excellent subjects for exploring electrical charge interactions. Their surfaces allow for charges to move freely when they touch other conductive bodies. This ability to conduct allows metal spheres to either donate some of their excess charge or take in a lesser charge from another sphere, resulting in a new charge balance.

In this exercise, metal spheres A, B, and C demonstrate how charges adjust through contact. When sphere C, initially neutral, touches A (which now has \(+2q\)), they share the total charge. Sphere C receives some of A’s charge, resulting in each sphere obtaining \(+q\). Later, C's contact with B shows a similar adjustment where the charge is again shared. Metal spheres help highlight the idea that charge balance is dynamic and can shift through conductive interactions.
  • Metal spheres are effective conductors of electricity.
  • They reflect charge redistribution through touch.
  • Conductive properties enable charge to move easily.
Electric Charge
Electric charge is a core concept in physics that describes how particles interact through electromagnetic forces. Charges can be positive, negative, or neutral, directly affecting how objects attract or repel each other. When dealing with spheres A, B, and C, the initial charges define how they will interact. A holds \(+5q\), B has \(-q\), and C holds \(0\).

Throughout this exercise, the amount of charge on each sphere changes due to the principle of conservation of charge. This principle states that the total charge in a closed system remains constant. Therefore, the charges on the spheres simply redistribute among them, maintaining the initial total charge of \(+4q\) throughout the interactions. Recognizing the nature of electric charge helps to understand the balancing act these spheres undergo and reaffirms that even as individual charges change, the system's total charge remains unaltered.
  • Electric charge directly affects electromagnetic interactions.
  • Charges must balance to maintain system stability.
  • The conservation of charge ensures constant total charge in a closed system.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

A small object, which has a charge \(q=7.5 \mu \mathrm{C}\) and mass \(m=9.0 \times 10^{-5} \mathrm{kg},\) is placed in a constant electric field. Starting from rest, the object accelerates to a speed of \(2.0 \times 10^{3} \mathrm{m} / \mathrm{s}\) in a time of \(0.96 \mathrm{s}\). Determine the magnitude of the electric field.

A particle of charge \(+12 \mu C\) and \(\operatorname{mass} 3.8 \times 10^{-5} \mathrm{kg}\) is released from rest in a region where there is a constant electric field of \(+480 \mathrm{N} / \mathrm{C}\). What is the displacement of the particle after a time of \(1.6 \times 10^{-2} \mathrm{s} ?\)

Two identical small insulating balls are suspended by separate \(0.25-\mathrm{m}\) threads that are attached to a common point on the ceiling. Each ball has a mass of \(8.0 \times 10^{-4} \mathrm{kg} .\) Initially the balls are uncharged and hang straight down. They are then given identical positive charges and, as a result, spread apart with an angle of \(36^{\circ}\) between the threads. Determine (a) the charge on each ball and (b) the tension in the threads.

Two parallel plate capacitors have circular plates. The magnitude of the charge on these plates is the same. However, the electric field between the plates of the first capacitor is \(2.2 \times 10^{5} \mathrm{N} / \mathrm{C},\) whereas the field within the second capacitor is \(3.8 \times 10^{5} \mathrm{N} / \mathrm{C} .\) Determine the ratio \(r_{2} / r_{1}\) of the plate radius for the second capacitor to the plate radius for the first capacitor.

A charge of \(-3.00 \mu C\) is fixed at the center of a compass. Two additional charges are fixed on the circle of the compass, which has a radius of \(0.100 \mathrm{m} .\) The charges on the circle are \(-4.00 \mu \mathrm{C}\) at the position due north and \(+5.00 \mu \mathrm{C}\) at the position due east. What are the magnitude and direction of the net electrostatic force acting on the charge at the center? Specify the direction relative to due east.

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