three identical conducting spheres form an equilateral triangle of side length d

Question

three identical conducting spheres form an equilateral triangle of side length d = 17.5 cm. The sphere radii are much smaller than d and the sphere charges are qA = -1.91 nC, qB = -5.00 nC, and qC = +9.25 nC. (a) What is the magnitude of the electrostatic force between spheres A and C? The following steps are taken: A and B are connected by a thin wire and then disconnected; B is grounded by the wire, and the wire is then removed; B and C are connected by the wire and then disconnected. What now are the magnitudes of the electrostatic force (b) between spheres A and C and (c) between spheres B and C?

Explanation / Answer

a) F = k q1 q2/r^2 = 9E9*1.91E-9*9.25E-9/(17.5E-2)^2=5.19E-6 N b) when grounded q = 0 then B and C combines so each have qC/2 = 9.25E-9/2 F = k q1 q2/r^2 = 9E9*1.91E-9*(9.25E-9/2)/(17.5E-2)^2=2.6E-6 c) 9E9*(9.25E-9/2)^2/(17.5E-2)^2=6.29E-6

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