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thisisfudd
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2. A large electroscope is made with "leaves" that are 78-cm-long wires with tiny 24-g spheres at the ends. When charged, nearly all the charge resides on the spheres. If the wires each make a 30 degree angle with the vertical, what total charge Q must have been applied to the electroscope? Ignore the mass of the wires.
OK, firstly, do I consider the spheres as really small point particles and ignore their mass? I want to, but I bet that's wrong. Second, do I have to set up some kind of force diagram, with tension and such? I think that is where I am stuck. Actually, I just find this problem to be extremely obnoxious. My sense is that the net force is equal to zero ... I have to admit, I have been kind of staring idly at this problem so if you have at least a hint, I would appreciate it. I understand generally how electroscopes work, but not with forces, etc. thrown in.
OK, firstly, do I consider the spheres as really small point particles and ignore their mass? I want to, but I bet that's wrong. Second, do I have to set up some kind of force diagram, with tension and such? I think that is where I am stuck. Actually, I just find this problem to be extremely obnoxious. My sense is that the net force is equal to zero ... I have to admit, I have been kind of staring idly at this problem so if you have at least a hint, I would appreciate it. I understand generally how electroscopes work, but not with forces, etc. thrown in.