Two point charges of the same polarities are hung with the help of two...
Explanation:
When two point charges of the same polarities are hung with the help of two threads and kept close, they will repel each other.
When the system is taken to space, the gravitational force acting on the charges becomes negligible. Therefore, the only forces acting on the charges are the electrostatic forces between them and the tension in the threads.
Let the two charges be q1 and q2, and let the angle between the threads be θ. The forces acting on q1 are:
- The electrostatic force exerted by q2, which is repulsive and acts along the line joining q1 and q2.
- The tension in the thread attached to q1, which acts along the thread and away from q2.
Similarly, the forces acting on q2 are:
- The electrostatic force exerted by q1, which is repulsive and acts along the line joining q1 and q2.
- The tension in the thread attached to q2, which acts along the thread and away from q1.
Since the two charges have the same polarities, the electrostatic forces between them are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction. Therefore, the net electrostatic force on each charge is zero.
The tension in the threads is also equal in magnitude, since the charges are at the same distance from the point of suspension. Therefore, the net force on each charge due to the tension is also zero.
Since the net force on each charge is zero, the charges will remain in equilibrium. This means that the angle between the threads will remain constant.
In the absence of any external forces, the only configuration in which the charges remain in equilibrium is when the threads are parallel and the charges are at equal distances from the point of suspension. This corresponds to an angle of 180 degrees between the threads.
Therefore, the answer is option A, 180 degrees.
Two point charges of the same polarities are hung with the help of two...
There is gravitational field on earth, so if we hang the two same charges there will be an interaction of vertical gravitational field and horizontal electric field. The system will achieve equilibrium by creating a certain angle between the threads and hence the vertical and horizontal components of forces will balance. But in space, there is no gravity. So the charges will be at 180-degree separation.