What is the minimum magnitude of an electric field that balances the weight of a plastic sphere of mass 6.4 g that has been charged to -3.0 nC? A) 2.1 × 10⁷ N/C B) 2.4 × 10⁶ N/C C) 4.5 × 10⁶ N/C D) 6.4 × 10⁶ N/C

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The electric force on the sphere is qE, where q is the charge on the sphere and E is the electric field strength. The weight of the sphere is mg, where m is the mass of the sphere and g is the acceleration due to gravity. The electric field strength required to balance the weight of the sphere is therefore:E = mg/q = (6.4 × 10^-3 kg)(9.8 m/s^2)/(3.0 × 10^-9 C) = 2.1 × 10^7 N/C

What Is the Minimum Magnitude of an Electric Field That