Three identical point charges, each of mass m=0.260 kg and charge q, hang from three strings as shown in the figure. The lengths of the left and right strings are each of length L=28.0 cm and make an angle of ?= 25.0o with the vertical as shown.
On the pages you intend to submit for your work for this problem, draw a Free Body Diagram for the ball on the right. Use a straight-edge and be NEAT. (HINT: There should be TWO forces due to the two charges to the left of this charge. You can identify those TWO forces as FE1 and FE2 on the FBD. Be sure to identify the tension force (T) and mg as well. You need not include the gravitational attractions between the masses as they will be insignificant. Finally, show on the diagram where ? ends up with respect to the tension force (T) and break that tension force into components in the diagram. Only the tension force should need to be broken into components.
Also on those work pages, use your Free Body Diagram and apply Newton's 2nd Law (ΣF=ma) to both the x and the y direction (recognizing that the masses are in equilibrium) to generate two equations. Solve that system of equations for the two unknowns: the tension (T) and the charge (q).
Trending now
This is a popular solution!
Step by step
Solved in 5 steps with 5 images
