Chapter 32, Problem 27A

Electrical forces between charges are enormous relative to gravitational forces. Yet, we normally don’t sense electrical forces between us and our environment, while we do sense our gravitational interaction with Earth. Why is this so?

To determine

To Explain: One doesn’t sense electrical forces but one does sense gravitational force.

Answer to Problem 27A

Masses can’t cancel each other due to which one sense gravitational force but not an electrical force.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

An electrical force is defined as the interaction of the two charged bodies. Mathematically, the electrical force is given as:

  $F_E=\frac{k{q}_1{q}_2}{r^2}$

The force of attraction between the two bodies which have mass is defined as gravitational force. Mathematically, the gravitational force is given by:

  $F_G=\frac{G{m}_1{m}_2}{r^2}$

As given in the statement, the electrical forces between the charges are enormous relative to gravitational forces. Basically, electrical force depends upon the two charges of the two bodies which can cancel out each other making the net charge zero. But in case of gravitational force, it depends upon the masses of the two bodies which cannot be cancelled as some mass will always be there. Hence, one doesn’t sense an electrical force while one does sense the gravitational force.

Conclusion:

Thus, masses can’t cancel each other due to which we sense gravitational force but not an electrical force.