Two very small spheres are initially neutral and separated by a distance of 0.50 m. Suppose that 2.50 x 10^13 electrons are removed from one sphere and placed on the other. What is the magnitude of the electrostatic force that acts on each sphere?

Question

Two very small spheres are initially neutral and separated by a distance of 0.50 m. Suppose that 2.50 x 10^13 electrons are removed from one sphere and placed on the other.  What is the magnitude of the electrostatic force that acts on each sphere?

bobpursley · Answer

F=kQ1Q2/.50^2 for Q1, Q2 the amount of charge in coulomb is 2.50E12*1.6E-19coul/elelctron

Melissa · Answer

So in solving the answer it would be F=(8.99E9)*(2.5E13*1.6E-19)*(2.5E13*1.6E-19)/.50^2? If so, I don't think I did it right. I ended up with an answer of .57536

Nicole · Answer

Isnt one of the values you multiplied the 2.5E13 by has to be negative? For an electron, its -1.602 x 10^-19, while for a proton its 1.602 x 10^-19. Is this by any chance IB Physics?