Consider three identical metal spheres, a, b, and

c. sphere a carries a charge of + 5q. sphere b carries a charge of - q. sphere c carries no net charge. spheres a and b are touched together and then separated. sphere c is then touched to sphere a and separated from it. lastly, sphere c is touched to sphere b and separated from it. (a) what is the ratio of the final charge on sphere c to q? what is the ratio of the final total charge on the three spheres to q (b) before they are allowed to touch each other and (c) after they have touched?

Question

Physics

Ireland

22 June, 13:00

Consider three identical metal spheres, a, b, and

c. sphere a carries a charge of + 5q. sphere b carries a charge of - q. sphere c carries no net charge. spheres a and b are touched together and then separated. sphere c is then touched to sphere a and separated from it. lastly, sphere c is touched to sphere b and separated from it. (a) what is the ratio of the final charge on sphere c to q? what is the ratio of the final total charge on the three spheres to q (b) before they are allowed to touch each other and (c) after they have touched?

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Answers (1)

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Frida Lane · Answer 1

Due to the conservation of charge, the total number of charges remain constant. The initial charge is + 5q + (-1) q+0=4q, so the system end up with 4q. When sphere a and b touch, their charge become equal, so each takes on a charge of (+5-1) / 2=2q. The a and c touch each other and evenly divide the total charge, each takes on a charge of 2/2=1q. Lastly, b and c touch each other, each has (2+1) / 2=1.5q.