Thread: Electric Charge Question

Neutral metal sphere A, of mass 0.10 kg, hangs from an insulating wire 2.0 m long. An identical metal sphere B, with charge -q, is brought into contact with sphere A. The spheres repel and settle as shown. Calculate the initial Charge on B.

Coulomb's Law Formula = kq1q2/r^2



How do I go about solving this problem? (the book gives 3.9x10^-6C) as the answer)

Originally Posted by Jeavus

Neutral metal sphere A, of mass 0.10 kg, hangs from an insulating wire 2.0 m long. An identical metal sphere B, with charge -q, is brought into contact with sphere A. The spheres repel and settle as shown. Calculate the initial Charge on B.

Coulomb's Law Formula = kq1q2/r^2



How do I go about solving this problem? (the book gives 3.9x10^-6C) as the answer)

I'm curious to see a solution for this, as the only way I can think to do it is by method of images, which I would have thought to be too advanced for High School.

-Dan