Question

Find the electric field strength required to hold suspended a particle of mass 10^-6 kg and charge 1.0uC between two plates 10.0 cm apart.​

Answer 1

we have to find the electric field strength required to hold suspended a particle of mass 10⁻⁶ kg and charge 1 μC between two plates 10 cm apart.

solution : weight of the particle acting downwards and to balance the weight of the particle an electrostatic force of equal magnitude needs to act on the particle just upwards.

at equilibrium,

the weight of the particle = electrostatic force acting on the particle

⇒ mg = qE

⇒ 10⁻⁶ kg × 10 m/s² = 10⁻⁶C × E

⇒ E = 10 N/C

thefore the electric field strength required to hold suspended the particle between two plates is 10 N/C.