TO ESTIMATE THE CHARGE INDUCED ON

EACH ONE OF THE TWO IDENTICAL STYROFOAM

[OR PITH] BALLS SUSPENDED IN A VERTICAL
PLANE BY MAKING USE OF COULOMB’S LAW

~By S. RAKESH

12 A
CONTENTS
•Objective

•Apparatus Required

•Theory

•Procedure

•Result

•Precautions

•Sources of Error

•Bibliography
 COULOMB'S
LAW
1785 Augustine de Coulomb investigated the attractive and
repulsive forces between charged objects, experimentally
formulating what is now referred to as Coulomb9s Law: <The
magnitude of the electric force that a particle exerts on another
is directly proportional to the product of their charges and
inversely proportional to the square of the distance between
them.= Mathematically, this electrostatic F acting on two
charged particles (q1, q2) is expressed as

Where r is the separation distance between the objects and k is

a constant of proportionality, called the Coulomb constant, k =
9×109 Nm2/C2. This formula gives us the magnitude of the force
as well as direction by noting a positive force as attractive and a
negative force as repulsive. Noting that like charges repel each
other and opposite charges attracting each other, Coulomb
measured the force between the objects, small metal coated
balls, by using a torsion balance similar to the balance used to
measure gravitational forces
OBJECTIVE :-
To estimate the charge induced on each of the identical Styrofoam (or pith) balls
suspended in a vertical plane by making use of Coulomb’s law.

APPARATUS REQUIRED:-
• Small size identical balls

• Physical balance or electronic balance

•Halfmeter Scale

•Cotton thread

•Stand

•Glass Rod

•Silk cloth

THEORY:-
The fundamental concept in electrostatics is electrical charge. We are all familiar with the
fact that rubbing two materials together 4 for example, a rubber comb on cat fur 4 produces
a <static= charge. This process is called charging by friction. Surprisingly, the exact physics
of the process of charging by friction is poorly understood. However, it is known that the
making and breaking of contact between the two materials transfers the charge. The
charged particles which make up the universe come in three kinds: positive, negative, and
neutral. Neutral particles do not interact with electrical forces. Charged particles exert
electrical and magnetic forces on one another, but if the charges are stationary, the mutual
force is very simple in form and is given by Coulomb’s Law

Where F is the electrical force between any two stationary charged particles with charges
q1 and q2(measured in coulombs), r is the separation between the charges (measured in
meters), and k is a constant of nature (equal to 9×109 Nm2/C2 in SI units). The study of the
Coulomb forces among arrangements of stationary charged particles is called
electrostatics. Coulomb’s Law describes three properties of the electrical force: 1. The
force is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the charges, and is
directed along the straight line that connects their centers. 2. The force is proportional to
the product of the magnitude of the charges. 3. Two particles of the same charge exert a
repulsive force on each other, and two particles of opposite charge exert an attractive force
on each other. Most of the common objects we deal with in the macroscopic (human-
sized) world are electrically neutral

They are composed of atoms that consist of negatively charged electrons moving in
quantum motion around a positively charged nucleus. The total negative charge of the
electrons is normally exactly equal to the total positive charge of the nuclei, so the atoms
(and therefore the entire object) have no net electrical charge. When we charge a material
by friction, we are transferring some of the electrons from one material to another.
Materials such as metals are conductors. Each metal atom contributes one or two
electrons that can move relatively freely through the material. A conductor will carry an
electrical current. Other materials such as glass are insulators. Their electrons are bound
tightly and cannot move. Charge sticks on an insulator, but does not move freely through it.
A neutral particle is not affected by electrical forces. Nevertheless, a charged object will
attract a neutral macroscopic object by the process of electrical polarization. For example,
if a negatively charged rod is brought close to an isolated, neutral insulator, the electrons in

the atoms of the insulator will be pushed slightly away from the negative rod, and the
positive nuclei will be attracted slightly toward the negative rod. We say that the rod has
induced polarization in the insulator, but its net charge is still zero. The polarization of
charge in the insulator is small, but now it’s positive charge is a bit closer to the negative
rod, and its negative charge is a bit farther away. Thus, the positive charge is attracted to
the rod more strongly than the negative charge is repelled, and there is an overall net
attraction. If the negative rod is brought near an isolated, neutral conductor, the conductor
will also be polarized. In the conductor, electrons are free to move through the material,
and some of them are repelled over to the opposite surface of the conductor, leaving the
surface near the negative rod with a net positive charge. The conductor has been polarized,
and will now be attracted to the charged rod.

Let two point stationary charges q1 and q2 are separated by a distance r in vacuum. The
magnitude of the force (F)between them is given by:

The weight of the ball W = mg

The restoring force on each ball = mg sinθ

From the diagram in the right

In triangle ACB

Sinθ = x/2l

Let the charge on each ball is

q1 = q2 = q

Then at equilbrium

mg sinθ = k(q×q) /x²

 mg x/2l = kq²/x²

q = mgx³/2lk

PROCEDURE:-
• Weight the mass of each identical pith balls by balance and note down it.

• Tie the balls with two silk or cotton threads and suspend at a point on a stand or a rigid
support. Measure the length of threads by half meter scale . The length of threads should
be equal. Note down the length.

• Rub the glass rod with silk cloth and touch with both balls together so that the balls
acquired equal charge.

• Suspend the balls freely and the balls stay away a certain distance between the balls
when they become stationary. Note down the distance

• Touch any one suspended ball with other uncharged third ball and takes the third ball
away and repeat the step 4 .

• Touch other suspended ball with other uncharged fourth ball and takes the fourth ball
and takes the fourth ball away and repeat the step 4.

OBSERVATION:-
1.Mass of each ball (m) = 200g

2.Radius of each ball (r) =0.2cm

3.Length of each thread =100cm

 S.No Charge on ball Charge on ball Distance
B1 (q1) B2 ( q2) between two
balls ( x cm)
1. 0.00μC 0.00μC 0.4
2. 1.00μC 1.00μC 20.8
3. 2.00μC 2.00μC 26.2
4. 2.00μC 2.00μC 33.0

CALCULATIONS:-
By using the relation

g = [mgx³/2lk]½

Calculate the charge in each case :

RESULTS:-
The charge on each ball = 2μC

PRECAUTIONS:-
• The suspended balls should not be touched any conducting body.

• Rub the glass rod properly with the silk cloth to produce more charges.

• Weight the mass of the balls accurately.

SOURCES OF ERROR :-
• The balls may not be of equal size and mass.

• The distance between the balls may be measured accurately.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
BIBLIOGRAPHY
http://www.ncert.nic.in
https://www.wikipedia.org
https://www.quora.com
https://www.scribd.com