A ping-pong ball covered with a conducting graphite coating has a mass of 2.5 × 10−³ kg and a charge of 4.0 µC.What electric field directed upward will exactly balance the weight of the ball? (g = 9.8 m/s²) A) 6.1 × 10³ N/C B) 2.0 × 10−⁷ N/C C) 5.1 × 10⁶ N/C D) 1.2 × 10⁴ N/C

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The force of the electric field on the charged ball can be found by multiplying the electric field strength (E) by the charge (q), or F = Eq. The weight of the ball (mg) is balanced by this force, so we can set mg = Eq and solve for E: E = mg/q.

Plugging in the given values, we get:
E = (2.5 × 10^-3 kg)(9.8 m/s^2)/(4.0 × 10^-6 C)
E = 6.1 × 10^13 N/C

Therefore, the electric field directed upward that will exactly balance the weight of the ball is 6.1 × 10^13 N/C, which corresponds to answer choice A.

A Ping-Pong Ball Covered with a Conducting Graphite Coating Has