Solved Examples on Electrostatics:
Question 1:
An electrically neutral penny, of mass m = 3.11 g, contains equal
amounts of positive and negative charge.
(a) Assuming that the penny is made entirely of copper, what is the
magnitude q of the total positive (or negative) charge in the coin?
(b) Suppose that the positive charge and the negative charge in a
penny could be concentrated into two separate bundles, 100 m apart.
What attractive forces would act on each bundle?
Solution:
(a) A neutral atom has a negative charge of magnitude Ze associated
with its electrons and a positive charge of the same magnitude
associated with the protons in its nucleus, where Z is the atomic
number of the element in question. For copper, Z = 29, which means
that an atom of copper has 29 protons and, when neutral, 29
electrons.
N= NA (m/M ) = (6.02×1023 atoms/mol) (3.11 g/63.5 g/mol)
= 2.95×1022 atoms
We then find the magnitude of the total positive or negative charge in
the penny to be,
q = NZe
= (2.95×1022) (29) (1.60×1019C)
=137,000 C
This is an enormous charge. (For comparison, if you rub a plastic rod
with fur, you will be lucky to deposit any more than 109 C on the rod.)
(b) We have,
F = (1/4πε0) (q2/r2)
= (8.99×109 N.m2/C2) (1.37×105 C)2/(100 m)2
= 1.69×1016 N
From the above observation we conclude that, the attractive force act
on each bundle would be 1.69×1016 N.
http://www.askiitians.com/revisionnotes/physics/electrostatics/solvedexamples.html 1/4
3/16/2016 Electrostatics Solved Examples | askIITians
_______________________________________________________
___________________________________
Question 2:
Find the field outside a charged solid sphere of radius R and total
charge q.
Solution:
Draw a spherical surface of radius r>R in the below figure. This is
called Gaussian surface.
From the above observation we conclude that, the field outside the
sphere is exactly the same as it would have been if all the charge had
been concentrated at the center.
_______________________________________________________
_________________________________
Question 3:
A neutral water molecule (H 2O) in its vapor state has an electric
dipole moment of 6.2×1030C.m.
http://www.askiitians.com/revisionnotes/physics/electrostatics/solvedexamples.html 2/4
3/16/2016 Electrostatics Solved Examples | askIITians
(a) How far apart are the molecule’s centers of positive and negative
charge?
(b) If the molecule is placed in an electric field 1.5×104 N/C, what
maximum torque can the field exert on it?
(c) How much work must an external agent do to turn this molecule
end for end in this field, starting from its fully aligned position, for
which θ = 0?
Solution:
(a) There are 10 electrons and 10 protons in this molecule. So the
magnitude of the dipole moment is
p = qd = (10e)(d)
In which d is the separation we are seeking and e is the elementary
charge. Thus
d = p/10e
= [6.2×1030 C.m/(10) (1.60×1019C)]
= 3.9×1012 m = 3.9 pm
This distance is not only small, but it is actually smaller than the
radius of a hydrogen atom.
(b) From the equation = pE sinθ we know that the torque is a
maximum when θ = 90°. Substituting this value in that equation gives,
= pE sinθ
= (6.2×1030 C.m) (1.5×104 N/C) (sin 90°)
= 9.3×1026 N.m
Therefore, the maximum torque would be 9.3×1026 N.m
(c) The work is the difference in potential energy between the
positions θ = 180° and θ =0. Using equation U = pE cosθ, we get,
W= U (180°) – U(0)
= (pE cos180°) – ( pE cos 0)
= 2pE
= 2(6.2×1030 C.m) (1.5×104 N/C)
=1.9×1025 J
From the above observation we conclude that, the work done by the
external agent would be 1.9×1025 J.
_______________________________________________________
_________________________________
http://www.askiitians.com/revisionnotes/physics/electrostatics/solvedexamples.html 3/4
3/16/2016 Electrostatics Solved Examples | askIITians
Question 4:
The electrostatic repulsive force between two positively charged ions
carrying equal charges is given by 3.7×10 N. These charges are
separated by a distance of 5×1010 m. Calculate the number of
electrons missing from each ion?
Solution:
It is given that, F=3.7×109 N, r =5×1010 m and q1=q=q
According to Coulomb's law,
F=(9×109) (q1q2/r2)
3.7 × 109=9 ×109× [q2/(5×1010)2]
q2=[3.7×109×(5×1010)2] / (9×109)
q2=10.28×1038 C
q=3.2×1019C
The charge of the electron is given by 1.6×1019C
Therefore, number of electrons missing from each ion
=Total charge of each electron
= (3.2×1019)/ (1.6×1019)
=2
http://www.askiitians.com/revisionnotes/physics/electrostatics/solvedexamples.html 4/4