Question

Please help I will medal!

I am confused on how to solve this question:

A thundercloud has an electric charge of 43.2 C near the top of the cloud and -38.7 near the bottom of the cloud. The magnitude of the electric force between these two charges is 3.95 x 10^6 N. What is the average separation between these charges? (kc=8.99 x 10^9 N m^2/C^2)

Answer 1

@iGreen @gleem @emma.monsterr

Answer 2

Im sorry, i didnt learn these yet but good luck :/

Answer 3

ok thank you :/

Answer 4

@OpenStudyRocks5* @Greg_D @horsegirl325

Answer 5

The only thing I can think of is to subtract maybe but that comes out too 81.5 and I dont think thats right

Answer 6

Hi!
You can use the Coulomb's force law here...

Answer 7

seems they want you to use coulumbs law

F = k q1 q2 / r^2

Answer 8

I believe the equation I am supposed to use is in the question above. However, I dont understand how to solve with this equation.

Answer 9

@Greg_D

Answer 10

note that you are given both charges:
\[q_1=43.2C\]
\[q_2=-38.7C\]
and
\[F=3.95\times 10^6 N\]
you are also given kc, which is k in the eq of IrishBoy
you can just replace and finde the value for r, which represents the distance....
give it a try!

Answer 11

So I would solve 3.95 x 10^6 N =8.99 x 10^9 N m^2/C^2 (43.2C)(-38.7C) / r^2?

Answer 12

yeah!!
get r from there

Answer 13

Ok can you help me solve it? Just so I know I dont get the wrong answer?

Answer 14

we can both make calculations and check togheter...
let me see what i get...

Answer 15

Alright I'll let you know what I get.

Answer 16

just a detail, we dont need to use the minus sign for the second charge!

Answer 17

Alright!

Answer 18

I got 1.95 x 10^3 what did you get?

Answer 19

the same!!! :)
what do you thinks the units should be?

Answer 20

m?

Answer 21

sure! it is a distence, so meters!

Answer 22

good work :)

Answer 23

Thank you!

Answer 24

This correct right? @glittergurl0101

Answer 25

Yes, this is correct :) @Ella31224