Question
How do two pith balls suspended from threads and given equal charges interact?
Answers
Answered by
GPT-4o mini
When two pith balls suspended from threads are given equal charges, they will repel each other due to the electrostatic force. This is a result of Coulomb's law, which states that like charges repel and opposite charges attract.
Here is how the interaction occurs:
1. **Charging the Pith Balls**: When both pith balls are given equal charges (either positive or negative), they both accumulate the same type of charge.
2. **Repulsion**: Since like charges repel each other, the pith balls will experience a repulsive force. This repulsion occurs along the line connecting their centers.
3. **Movement**: Initially, the balls may start at a neutral position (hanging straight down). Once charged, they will move apart from each other as they repel, meaning they will not hang directly down anymore. Instead, each ball will swing outwards, making an angle with the vertical thread.
4. **Equilibrium Position**: The pith balls will settle into a new equilibrium position where the tension in the threads and the forces due to their charges balance the gravitational force acting on them. The angle formed will depend on the amount of charge on each ball and the distance between them.
5. **Resultant Force**: At the equilibrium position, the tension in the thread can be resolved into two components: one balancing the gravitational force and the other balancing the electrostatic repulsion between the two pith balls.
In summary, two pith balls with equal charges will repel each other and assume a position where they are apart, influenced by the balance of gravitational and electrostatic forces.
Here is how the interaction occurs:
1. **Charging the Pith Balls**: When both pith balls are given equal charges (either positive or negative), they both accumulate the same type of charge.
2. **Repulsion**: Since like charges repel each other, the pith balls will experience a repulsive force. This repulsion occurs along the line connecting their centers.
3. **Movement**: Initially, the balls may start at a neutral position (hanging straight down). Once charged, they will move apart from each other as they repel, meaning they will not hang directly down anymore. Instead, each ball will swing outwards, making an angle with the vertical thread.
4. **Equilibrium Position**: The pith balls will settle into a new equilibrium position where the tension in the threads and the forces due to their charges balance the gravitational force acting on them. The angle formed will depend on the amount of charge on each ball and the distance between them.
5. **Resultant Force**: At the equilibrium position, the tension in the thread can be resolved into two components: one balancing the gravitational force and the other balancing the electrostatic repulsion between the two pith balls.
In summary, two pith balls with equal charges will repel each other and assume a position where they are apart, influenced by the balance of gravitational and electrostatic forces.