Question

Two small balls having equal poistive charges Q( coulomb) on each are suspended by two insulating strings of equal length L(metre) from a hook fixed to a stand. The whole set up is taken in a satellite into space where there is no gravity (state of weightlessness). The angle between the two strings is...............and the tenison in each string is...................newtons.

Answer 1

Where there is no gravitational force, then in this case only electrostatic force of repulsion is acting which will take the two balls as far as possible. The angle between the two strings will be `180^(@)`. The tension in the string will be equal to the electrostatic force of repulsion, i.e.,
`T=(1)/(4piepsilon_(0))xx(QxxQ)/((2L)^(2))=(1)/(4piepsilon_(0))xx(Q)/(4L^(2))`