Coulomb's Law regarding theta and plotting

In summary, the conversation discusses a lab experiment involving a string with a charged ball and another charged ball being moved closer to it. The data collected showed that as the distance between the two balls decreased, the points on the graph became more dispersed. The conversation also mentions the concept of using the sine of theta instead of the tangent, and questions the range of angles for which this approximation is accurate. Additionally, it is mentioned that the redistribution of charges inside conductive balls can have a significant effect at short distances.
  • #1
iberhammer
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Homework Statement



In lab, there was a string with a charged ball, and another charged ball moved closer to it. The ball's repelled and we had all sorts of data to calculate. I did a graph of the D vs 1/R^2 and the points fell almost right on. However, towards the end of that line, the points started to spread out a little more. Meanwhile at the beginning, the points looked really close to each other.

My question is why does that happen towards the smaller R values? The smaller R values are the ones near the end all dispersed? The smaller the R value implies that the balls are really close so there is an attraction to the negatively charged particles within the ball on the string and due to the weight of the ball, the ball will drop until they touch? Am I correct?

It also says that a small enough angle can deplete the need for a tangent of theta by replacing it with the sine of theta (D/L). The question says "for what range of angle theta is this a good approximation?" I'm assuming from 0 to 45 degree??

Thank you in advance for any help :)
 

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  • #2
If the balls are conductive the charges can redistribute inside them. This effect is considerable for short distances.
 

Related to Coulomb's Law regarding theta and plotting

1. What is Coulomb's Law?

Coulomb's Law is a fundamental law of physics that describes the relationship between electric charges. It states that the force between two charges is directly proportional to the product of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. This law helps to explain how electric charges interact with each other.

2. How does Coulomb's Law relate to theta?

In Coulomb's Law, theta (θ) represents the angle between the line connecting the two charges and the direction of the force. This angle is important because it affects the magnitude and direction of the force between the charges. When theta is 0 degrees, the force is repulsive, and when theta is 180 degrees, the force is attractive.

3. Can Coulomb's Law be used for plotting?

Yes, Coulomb's Law can be used for plotting the electric field and force between two charges. By plotting the force as a function of distance and theta, you can see how the force changes with different angles and distances. This can help to visualize and understand the behavior of electric charges.

4. How is Coulomb's Law different from Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation?

Coulomb's Law and Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation both describe the force between two objects, but they apply to different types of forces. Coulomb's Law describes the force between two electric charges, while Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation describes the force between two masses. Additionally, Coulomb's Law includes the factor of the electric constant, while Newton's Law includes the gravitational constant.

5. What are some real-world applications of Coulomb's Law?

Coulomb's Law has many applications, including in the design of electronic circuits, the behavior of particles in particle accelerators, and the study of atomic and molecular structures. It is also used in the development of technologies such as capacitors, batteries, and electric motors. Furthermore, it helps to explain everyday phenomena such as static electricity and lightning.

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