A very small conducting sphere carrying a charge of -20 nC is attached to a forc

Question

A very small conducting sphere carrying a charge of -20 nC is attached to a force gauge and loweredinto a uniform electric field. A force of 1.5 nN due east keeps the sphere in equilibrium.What is the E-field at the location of the sphere,assuming air is the medium? [Hint: Use the defining expressionfor the electric field. Be especially careful about the sign of thecharge and the direction of F.]
MAGNITUDE=      N/C
Direction (North, South, East,West)?
MAGNITUDE=      N/C
Direction (North, South, East,West)?

Explanation / Answer

Charge q = -20 nC = -20 * 10 ^ -9 C Force F = 1.5 nN = 1.5 * 10 ^ -9 N Force on negative charge is opposite to the electric fielddirection. i.e. electric field is in west direction. So, electric field E = F / q                             = 0.075 N / C

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