Coulomb's Law (Electric Force) Video Lessons

Concept

# Problem: Two identical small charged spheres are a certain distance apart, and each one initially experiences an electrostatic force of magnitude F due to the other. With time, charge gradually diminishes on both spheres by leaking off. When each of the spheres has lost half its initial charge, what will be the magnitude of the electrostatic force on each one?A) 1/16 FB) 1/8 FC) 1/4 FD) 1/2 FE) 1/√2 F

###### FREE Expert Solution

Coulomb's law:

$\overline{){\mathbf{F}}{\mathbf{=}}\frac{\mathbf{k}{\mathbf{q}}_{\mathbf{1}}{\mathbf{q}}_{\mathbf{2}}}{{\mathbf{r}}^{\mathbf{2}}}}$

The force is directly proportional to the product of the two charges:

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###### Problem Details

Two identical small charged spheres are a certain distance apart, and each one initially experiences an electrostatic force of magnitude F due to the other. With time, charge gradually diminishes on both spheres by leaking off. When each of the spheres has lost half its initial charge, what will be the magnitude of the electrostatic force on each one?

A) 1/16 F

B) 1/8 F

C) 1/4 F

D) 1/2 F

E) 1/√2 F