Question

Two oppositely charge particles attract to each other. Two charge particles having equal and opposite charge are suspended from a horizontal rod through two string of same length the separation between the suspension points being 5 cm. In equilibrium, the separation between the particles is 3 cm. Draw
the correct diagram of the above situation.

Answer 1

Explanation:

Above given is your required diagram.

Answer 2

Answer:

All the given conditions and the forces acting on the charges are shown in the figure.

Explanation:

Given two particles having equal and opposite charge are suspended from a horizontal rod through two strings of same length.

The separation between the suspension points = 5 cm.

In equilibrium, the separation between the particles is 3 cm.

The equilibrium state of a system is defined by a balance between the forces acting on the system.    

• Let the two charged particles be, +q and −q, and the mass of the charges be m.  
• And assume that length of string is greater than the separation between the strings, so that the angle of displacement θ can be taken as a small angle approximation.
• Each charge experience three different forces.

1. The force of gravity $mg$ where g is acceleration due to gravity.
2. The Coulomb’s electrostatic force of attraction, $F_{C} =k\frac{q^{2} }{r^{2} }$ where $k$ is the constant ($=9 \times 10^{9} N m^{2} /C^{2}$) and $r$ is the separation between the charges.
3. The linear tension of the string, $T$. Splitting into horizontal and vertical components yields the force components and each component is equal to  $T sin\theta = F_{C}$  and  $T cos\theta = mg$    

The net force on the particle will be  $T + mg + F_{C} = 0$.  

All the given conditions and the forces acting on the charges are shown in the figure.