In a charging process, 1 × 10^13 electrons are removed from one small metal sphere and placed on a second identical sphere. Initially both metal spheres were neutral. After the charging process the electrical potential energy associated with the two spheres is found to be −0.064 J . What is the distance between the two spheres?

r = 0.303m

= 30.3cm

Explanation:

Given that,

The number of electrons transferred from one sphere to the other,  

n  = 1 ×10 ¹³e le c t r o n s

The electrostatic potential energy between the spheres,  

U = − 0.061 J

The charge on an electron,  

q = − 1.6 × 10 ⁻¹⁹C

The coulomb constant,  

K = 8.98755 × 10 ⁹ N ⋅ m ² / C 2²

Due to the transfer of electrons, both spheres become equally and oppositely.

The charge gained by the sphere due to the excess of the electron is:  

q ₁ = n q

   = 1 ×10 ¹³ *  − 1.6 × 10 ⁻¹⁹

   = -1.6  × 10⁻⁶C

The charge left on the first sphere is =

q ₂ = -q₁ = 1.6  × 10⁻⁶C

The electric potential energy between two point charges is given by the following equation:

U = K q ₁q ₂/r

q ₁ and  q ₂ are the two charges.

r  is the distance between the charge and the point.

K  =  8.98755  ×  10 ⁹ N ⋅ m ² / C ²

we have:

-0.061 =  (8.98755  ×  10 ⁹ * (-1.6  × 10⁻⁶)²) / r

r = (18.41 ×  10 ⁻³) / 0.061

r = 0.303m

= 30.3cm

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explanation:

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