College Physics
College Physics
2nd Edition
ISBN: 9780134601823
Author: ETKINA, Eugenia, Planinšič, G. (gorazd), Van Heuvelen, Alan
Publisher: Pearson,
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Chapter 17, Problem 1RQ

Review Question 17.1 To decide whether an object is electrically charged, we need to observe its repulsion from some other objects, not its attraction. Why is attraction insufficient?

Expert Solution & Answer
Check Mark
To determine

The reason behind attraction being an insufficient condition for deciding whether an object is electrically charged or not.

Answer to Problem 1RQ

Solution:

Attraction can exist between a charged and a neutral object also, due to the charging by induction. So, attraction is not sufficient to decide whether the object is charged or not. Repulsion cannot exist because of an induced charge so repulsion is a sufficient condition.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

There are various methods of charging an object, such as charging by friction, charging by induction, charging by conduction, and grounding.

Charging by induction is the method in which a neutral object is placed near the charged object and since there are electrons and protons in every atom of an object, they will either attract or repel each other. So, the positive (protons) and negative (electrons) charges that make a nucleus neutral, are separated by the presence of an external charged object. So, on one side there will be negatively charged electrons and on the other side there will be positively charged protons. This is called polarization of the object. The sides near the object of known charge (assume positive) will be of the opposite charge (negative) and vice versa. Neutral objects are attracted towards the charged object irrespective of the fact whether the charge is positive or negative.

Explanation:

Suppose a positively charged object is placed near a metal piece. Since electrons are loosely bound in the atoms of metals, electrons will move towards the face that is near the positively charged object. When electron leaves the atom, the atom will get positively charged. Since the face with the negative charge is near the positively charged object, the metal piece will be attracted towards the positively charged object.

To decide whether an object is electrically charged or not, the object needs to be placed near another object of known charge. If it is repelled by the object, then the first object could be of positive or negative charge. But, if the two objects are attracted to each other, it is not sufficient to decide because a charged object can induce a charge of the opposite sign on the neutral object. It means that the attraction between the objects can exist due to an induced charge. Thus, it will not be possible to decide whether the object was charged prior to the process, or charge has been induced by the second object.

Conclusion:

Therefore, repulsion is a sufficient condition for deciding whether an object is electrically charged or not.

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Chapter 17 Solutions

College Physics

Ch. 17 - When an object gets charged by rubbing, where does...Ch. 17 - Choose all of the quantities that are constant in...Ch. 17 - Identically charged point-like objects A and B are...Ch. 17 - When separated by distance d, identically charged...Ch. 17 - Balloon A has charge q, and identical mass balloon...Ch. 17 - Imagine that two charged objects are the system of...Ch. 17 - Two objects with charges + q and -2q are separated...Ch. 17 - Charged point-like objects A and B are separated...Ch. 17 - 12. If you move a negatively charged balloon...Ch. 17 - 13. Describe the differences between the electric...Ch. 17 - Prob. 14CQCh. 17 - At one time it was thought that eclectic charge...Ch. 17 - 16. What experiments can you do to show that there...Ch. 17 - An object becomes positively charged due to...Ch. 17 - List everything that you know about electric...Ch. 17 - 19. What experimental evidence supports the idea...Ch. 17 - 20. You have an aluminum pie pan with pieces of...Ch. 17 - You have a charged metal ball. How can you reduce...Ch. 17 - 22. You have a foam rod rubbed with felt and a...Ch. 17 - A positively charged metal ball A is placed near...Ch. 17 - 24. Show that if the charge on B in the previous...Ch. 17 - 25. Two metal balls of the same radius are placed...Ch. 17 - 26. Describe the experiments that were first used...Ch. 17 - 27. The electrical force that one electric charge...Ch. 17 - 28. Why isn’t Coulomb's law valid for large...Ch. 17 - 29. How is electric potential energy similar to...Ch. 17 - BIO Ventricular defibrillation During ventricular...Ch. 17 - 2. * You rub two 2.0-g balloons with a wool...Ch. 17 - * Two balloons of different mass hang from strings...Ch. 17 - * Lightning A cloud has a large positive charge....Ch. 17 - 5. Sodium chloride (table salt) consists of sodium...Ch. 17 - * EST (a) Earth has an excess of 6105 electrons on...Ch. 17 - 7. Determine the electrical force that two protons...Ch. 17 - * Determine the number of electrons that must be...Ch. 17 - BIO Ions on cell walls The membrane of a body cell...Ch. 17 - * Hydrogen atom in a simplified model of a...Ch. 17 - * Three 100 nC charged objects are equally spaced...Ch. 17 - ** Tow objects with charges q and 4q are separated...Ch. 17 - * Salt crystal Four ions (Na+,Cl-,Na+,andCl-) in a...Ch. 17 - * A+106C charged object and a+2106C charged object...Ch. 17 - 15. **BIO Bee pollination Bees acquire an electric...Ch. 17 - 16. * A triangle with equal sides of length 10 cm...Ch. 17 - 17. You have a small metal sphere fixed on an...Ch. 17 - 18. * After the experiment in Problem 17.17, you...Ch. 17 - 20. (a) Determine the change in electric potential...Ch. 17 - You have a system of two positively charged...Ch. 17 - You have a system of two negatively charged...Ch. 17 - 23. Repeat (a)-(c) of Problem 17.22 for a system...Ch. 17 - The metal sphere on the top of a Van de Graaff...Ch. 17 - * EST An electron is 0.10 cm from an object with...Ch. 17 - * (a) An object with charge q4=+3.010-9C is moved...Ch. 17 - 27. * An object with charge is moved from...Ch. 17 - +8nCandq2=4nC are placed at marks...Ch. 17 - 29. * Two small objects with charges + Q and -Q...Ch. 17 - 30. * A stationary block has a charge of . A...Ch. 17 - Figure P17.31 shows four different configurations...Ch. 17 - * Evaluate the solution Metal sphere 1 has charge...Ch. 17 - 37. * Construct separate force diagrams for each...Ch. 17 - 38. “ The six objects shown in Figure P17.38 have...Ch. 17 - * A small metal ball with positive charge + q and...Ch. 17 - 40. * Four objects each with charge are located...Ch. 17 - 41. * Two 5.0-g aluminum foil balls hang from...Ch. 17 - 42. * A 6.0-g ball with charge hangs from a...Ch. 17 - * A 0.40-kg cart with charge +4.010-8C starts at...Ch. 17 - A dust particle has an excess charge of 4106...Ch. 17 - Electric accelerator A micro-transporter moves...Ch. 17 - * You are holding at rest a small sphere A with...Ch. 17 - * A Van de Graaff generator is placed in rarefied...Ch. 17 - 48. * Two protons each of mass and charge +e are...Ch. 17 - 49. * Two protons, initially separated by a very...Ch. 17 - * An alpha particle consists of two protons and...Ch. 17 - * Determine the speed that the proton shown in...Ch. 17 - 52. ** Suppose that Earth and the Moon initially...Ch. 17 - 53. * BIO Calcium ion synapse transfer Children...Ch. 17 - 54. A small ball D has a charge of and cannot...Ch. 17 - 55. *Two small balls A and B with equal charges +...Ch. 17 - Static cling You pull your domes from the dryer...Ch. 17 - Static cling You pull your domes from the dryer...Ch. 17 - Static cling You pull your domes from the dryer...Ch. 17 - Static cling You pull your domes from the dryer...Ch. 17 - Static cling You pull your domes from the dryer...Ch. 17 - Static cling You pull your domes from the dryer...Ch. 17 - Static cling You pull your clothes from the dryer...Ch. 17 - Electrostatic exploration Geologists sometimes...Ch. 17 - Electrostatic exploration Geologists sometimes...Ch. 17 - Electrostatic exploration Geologists sometimes...Ch. 17 - Electrostatic exploration Geologists sometimes...Ch. 17 - Electrostatic exploration Geologists sometimes...Ch. 17 - Electrostatic exploration Geologists sometimes...

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