Electricity: Static Electricity

Static Electricity: Audio Guided Solution

Problem 13:

Mr. H rubs a long plastic tube with wool and imparts a charge of -45.6 nC to the tube. Ariel then blows a soap bubble into the air. Mr. H holds the plastic tube above the bubble, causing it to morph into an oblong shape and suspend motionless just below the tube. As the 22.8-mg bubble polarizes, the center of positive charge of the bubble is positioned 11.4 cm from the charge on the plastic tube; the center of negative charge is positioned 16.9 cm from the charge on the plastic tube. Ignoring buoyant forces, determine the effective positive and negative charge on the polarized bubble. (GIVEN: 1 C = 109 nC)

Audio Guided Solution

Habits of an Effective Problem Solver

  • Read the problem carefully and develop a mental picture of the physical situation. If necessary, sketch a simple diagram of the physical situation to help you visualize it.
  • Identify the known and unknown quantities; record them in an organized manner. A diagram is a great place to record such information. Equate 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 = ???.
  • Use physics formulas and conceptual reasoning to plot a strategy for solving for the unknown quantity.
  • Identify the appropriate formula(s) to use.
  • Perform substitutions and algebraic manipulations in order to solve for the unknown quantity.

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Get more information on the topic of Static Electricity at The Physics Classroom Tutorial.

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