Two point charges of 8.7×10−6 C, on the left, and −2.7×10−6 C, directly to its right, are separated by 0.071 m. Find the electrostatic force acting on the charge on the left. A force to the right is taken as positive, while one directed to the left is negative.
they will attract, so the force will be to the right.
f=kq1q2/d^2
To find the electrostatic force acting on the charge on the left, we can use Coulomb's law. Coulomb's law states that the electrostatic force between two point charges is directly proportional to the product of their magnitudes and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.
The formula for Coulomb's law is:
F = (k * |q1 * q2|) / r^2
where F is the electrostatic force, k is the electrostatic constant (k = 8.99 × 10^9 N m^2/C^2), q1 and q2 are the magnitudes of the two charges, and r is the distance between them.
In this case, q1 is 8.7×10^(-6) C (positive charge) and q2 is -2.7×10^(-6) C (negative charge), and the distance between them, r, is 0.071 m.
Substituting these values into the formula, we have:
F = (8.99 × 10^9 N m^2/C^2 * |8.7×10^(-6) C * -2.7×10^(-6) C|) / (0.071 m)^2
Now, let's calculate the electrostatic force:
|8.7×10^(-6) C * -2.7×10^(-6) C| = 8.7×10^(-6) C * 2.7×10^(-6) C = 2.349 × 10^(-11) C^2
(0.071 m)^2 = 0.005041 m^2
F = (8.99 × 10^9 N m^2/C^2 * 2.349 × 10^(-11) C^2) / 0.005041 m^2
F = 16.725 N
Therefore, the electrostatic force acting on the charge on the left is 16.725 N.