Question

There are two identical, positively charged conducting spheres fixed in space. The spheres are 31.4 cm31.4 cm apart (center to center) and repel each other with an electrostatic force of ?1=0.0615 NF1=0.0615 N . A thin conducting wire connects the spheres, redistributing the charge on each sphere. When the wire is removed, the spheres still repel, but with a force of ?2=0.115 NF2=0.115 N . The Coulomb force constant is ?=1/(4??0)=8.99×109 N⋅m2/C2k=1/(4πϵ0)=8.99×109 N⋅m2/C2 .

Using this information, find the initial charge on each sphere, ?1q1 and ?2q2, if ?1q1 is initially less than ?2q2 .

Answer 1