Book cover for Fundamentals of Physics

Fundamentals of Physics

David Halliday, Robert Resnick

ISBN #9781119460138

11th Edition

4,175 Questions

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Learning Objectives

Key Concepts

Example Problems

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Summary

This section introduces the fundamental physics of electromagnetism by examining electric charge and its properties. It explains how charges interact through Coulomb’s Law, highlights the importance of the electric field in facilitating non-contact forces, and discusses the roles of conductors, insulators, and grounding in managing charge. The principles of charge quantization and conservation underscore the discrete and unchanging nature of electrical charge in isolated systems, which forms the basis for numerous applications in both natural phenomena and modern technology.

Learning Objectives

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Key Concepts

CONCEPT

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Example Problems

Example 1

Of the charge $Q$ initially on a tiny sphere, a portion $q$ is to be transferred to a second, nearby sphere. Both spheres can be treated as particles and are fixed with a certain separation. For what value of $q / Q$ will the electrostatic force between the two spheres be maximized?

Example 2

Identical isolated conducting spheres 1 and 2 have equal charges and are separated by a distance that is large compared with their diameters (Fig. $21-22 a$ ). The electrostatic force acting on sphere 2 due to sphere 1 is $\vec{F}$. Suppose now that a third identical sphere 3 , having an insulating handle and initially neutral, is touched first to sphere 1 (Fig. $21-22 b$ ), then to sphere 2 (Fig. $21-22 c$ ), and finally removed (Fig. $21-22 d$ ). The electrostatic force that now acts on sphere 2 has magnitude $F^{\prime} .$ What is the ratio $F^{\prime} / F ?$

Example 3

What must be the distance between point charge $q_{1}=26.0 \mu \mathrm{C}$ and point charge $q_{2}=-47.0 \mu \mathrm{C}$ for the electrostatic force between them to have a magnitude of $5.70 \mathrm{~N} ?$

Example 4

In the return stroke of a typical lightning bolt, a current of $2.5 \times 10^{4}$ A exists for $20 \mu$ s. How much charge is transferred in this event?

Example 5

A particle of charge $+3.00 \times 10^{-6} \mathrm{C}$ is $12.0 \mathrm{~cm}$ distant from a second particle of charge $-1.50 \times 10^{-6} \mathrm{C}$. Calculate the magnitude of the electrostatic force between the particles.

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