Electricity: Static Electricity
Static Electricity: Audio Guided Solution
High voltage electrical cables generate an electric field in the region of space surrounding the cables. This field can be strong enough to cause a coronal glow in grounded objects and to ignite combustible fuels. According to one source, utility companies take measures to insure that the electrical field intensity is no greater than 1000 N/C at the perimeter of their public lands. Determine the force that would be experienced by a 1.0 μC charge when placed at this location.
Audio Guided Solution
Habits of an Effective Problem Solver
Read the problem carefully and develop a mental picture of the physical situation. If necessary, sketch a simple diagram of the physical situation to help you visualize it.
Identify the known and unknown quantities; record them in an organized manner. A diagram is a great place to record such information. Equate given values to the symbols used to represent the corresponding quantity - e.g., Q1 = 2.4 μC; Q2 = 3.8 μC; d = 1.8 m; Felect = ???.
Use physics formulas and conceptual reasoning to plot a strategy for solving for the unknown quantity.
Identify the appropriate formula(s) to use.
Perform substitutions and algebraic manipulations in order to solve for the unknown quantity.
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