Physics for Engineering Tech.

LAB MANUAL Page A7- 1

2002 CAMOSUN COLLEGE Physics for Tech Lab Manual

Experiment A7: COULOMBS LAW


OBJECTIVES:

The purpose of this experiment is to verify the expression for Coulombs Law, to show
that the force is inversely proportional to the square of the distance, and, from Coulombs
Law, to determine the charge on two suspended charges.


APPARATUS:

Original apparatus:
Two charged pith balls
Insulating strings
Support with hole
Series of photographic frames showing the
suspended balls for various separation distances
Vernier caliper or accurate ruler
Accurate protractor


THEORY

Coulombs Law states that two objects carrying charges q
1
and q
2
separated by a
distance r will exert equal and opposite forces on each other given by


1 2
2
1
4
q q
F
r
=

where is the electric permittivity of the medium,
Or, in air

1 2
2
q q
F k
r
= (1)

where k is the Coulomb constant, 9 x 10
9
Nm
2
/C
2


This can be applied to two identical pith balls bearing identical charge. Consider two
such balls each of mass m and charge q , suspended from two insulating threads which
pass through a hole in a support plate as in the diagram below.




Page A7- 2 LAB MANUAL Physics for Engineering Tech.














The force whereby the balls repel each other, forces them apart and they each hang at an
angle to the vertical. As the string is pulled upward through the hole, the balls are
forced together reducing r , increasing F, and consequently increasing the angle of
suspension. (The angle of suspension can be taken to be an indicator of the strength of
the force). Conversely, lowering the string through the hole allows the balls to separate,
and hang with a reduced force at a lesser angle of suspension.

For any position, the connection between and r can be found but applying the
equilibrium conditions to either one of the balls with the electrostatic force F as one of
the equilibrium forces. This is balanced by the tension in the thread T and the weight mg.













In the vertical direction:

cos T mg =
or

cos
mg
T

=
In the horizontal direction:

2
1 2
2 2
sin
q q kq
T k
r r
= =
r

r

T

mg
Physics for Engineering Tech. LAB MANUAL Page A7- 3

Combining these last two equations to substitute for T :


2
2
tan
kq
mg
r
=
or

2
2
1
tan
kq
mg r
= (2)


PROCEDURE:

The experiment described above is difficult to do in the student laboratory. It presents a
number of difficulties, not the least of which is the ability of the spheres to preserve a
constant charge during the course of the experiment. The charge tends to leak to the
surrounding atmosphere, particularly at times when the humidity is high. In order to
enable the student to obtain data with reasonable accuracy, rather than doing the
experiment, he/she will be working from a sequence of photographic plates created as the
apparatus was raised or lowered through the hole.

1. Download and print the sequence of 8 photographs showing how the angle of
suspension is reduced as the string is lowered.

2. On each photo measure the separation distance between the two balls and the average
suspension angle. Dont forget to estimate uncertainties. Record these in an orderly
fashion in your data table.

3. Plot a graph of tan vs r.

4. Now plot a graph of tan vs 1/r
2
. Plot your uncertainties as error bars on the
graph. Comment on the shape of your graph.

5. Calculate the slope of your graph, with the uncertainty. From your slope, with the
help of equation 2, determine the charge on each of the pith balls. Use the measured
mass value supplied by your instructor