Two small conducting spheres are identical except that sphere x has a charge of -10 micro coulombs and sphere y has a charge of + 6 micro coulombs . After the spheres are brought in contact and then separated,what is the charge on each sphere ,in micro coulombs ?
the charge is evenly divided among the spheres
Total charge = -10+6 = -4 *10^-6 C
so each has
-2*10^-6 C
To determine the charge on each sphere after they are brought in contact and separated, we can follow these steps:
Step 1: Calculate the total charge before the spheres are brought in contact.
The total charge before contact is equal to the sum of the individual charges on each sphere:
Total charge = Charge on sphere x + Charge on sphere y
Total charge = -10 μC + 6 μC
Total charge = -4 μC
Step 2: Determine the charge distribution after the spheres are brought in contact.
When the spheres are brought in contact, charge redistributes between them, redistributing the total charge of -4 μC. Since this redistribution occurs between identical spheres, the charge is evenly distributed.
Step 3: Calculate the charge on each sphere after separation.
As the charge redistributes evenly, divide the total charge by the number of spheres to determine the charge on each sphere:
Charge on each sphere after separation = Total charge / Number of spheres
Charge on each sphere after separation = -4 μC / 2
Charge on each sphere after separation = -2 μC
Therefore, after the spheres are brought in contact and then separated, the charge on each sphere is -2 μC.