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Three particles, each of mass m and carrying a charge q each, are suspended from a common point by insulating massless strings, each of length L. If the particles are in equilibrium and are located at the corners of an equilateral triangle of side a, calculate the charge q on each particle. Assume L >>a .?
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Three particles, each of mass m and carrying a charge q each, are susp...
Equilibrium of Charged Particles in an Equilateral Triangle
In this scenario, we have three particles of mass m and charge q each, suspended from a common point by insulating massless strings of length L. The particles are in equilibrium and form an equilateral triangle of side a.

Calculating the Charge q on Each Particle
To determine the charge q on each particle, we can consider the forces acting on the particles. Since the system is in equilibrium, the electrostatic repulsive forces between the charges must balance out the gravitational forces acting on the particles.
- The repulsive force between two charges q1 and q2 separated by a distance r is given by Coulomb's Law: F = k * q1 * q2 / r^2, where k is the electrostatic constant.
- In this case, each particle experiences repulsive forces from the other two particles, forming an equilateral triangle. Let's denote the angles between the strings and the horizontal as θ.
- Resolving forces along the vertical direction, we have two components: T * sin(θ) upward (tension in the string) and 2 * k * q^2 / a^2 downward (repulsive forces from the other particles).
- Similarly, resolving forces along the horizontal direction, we have T * cos(θ) balancing out the horizontal components of the repulsive forces.
- Since the system is in equilibrium, the net force along both directions must be zero.
By solving the equations considering the equilibrium conditions and geometry of the triangle, we can determine the charge q on each particle. The details of the calculations involve trigonometry and force analysis to find the exact value of q that satisfies the equilibrium conditions.
Therefore, by carefully analyzing the forces acting on the particles and applying the principles of equilibrium, we can calculate the charge q on each particle in the system.
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Passage 2Newtons surprising success at developing the laws of motion, as well as the development and refinement of other physical laws, led to the idea of scientific determinism. The first expression of this principle was in the beginning of the nineteenth century by Laplace, a French scientist. Laplace argued that if one knew the position and velocity of all the particles in the universe at a given time, the laws of physics would be able to predict the future state ofthe universe.Scientific determinism held sway over a great many scientists until the early twentieth century, when the quantum mechanics revolution occurred. Quantum mechanics introduced the world to the idea of the uncertainty principle, which stated that it was impossible to accurately measure both the position and the velocity of a particle at one time. Because Laplaces omniscience could never occur, even in theory, the principle of scientific determinism was thrown into doubt. However, quantum mechanics does allow for a reduced form of scientific determinism. Even though physicists are unable to know precisely where a particle is and what its velocity is, they can determine certain probabilities about its position and velocity. These probabilities are called wave functions. By use of a formula known as the Schrodinger equation, a scientist with the wave function of a particle at a given time can calculate the particles future wave function. These calculations can give the particles position or velocity, but not both. Thus, the physicist is in possession of exactly half ofthe information needed to satisfy Laplaces view ofdeterminism. Unfortunately, under modern physics theories, that is far as any researcher can go in predicting the future.Q. The passage suggests that if scientific determinism were true

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Three particles, each of mass m and carrying a charge q each, are suspended from a common point by insulating massless strings, each of length L. If the particles are in equilibrium and are located at the corners of an equilateral triangle of side a, calculate the charge q on each particle. Assume L >>a .?
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Three particles, each of mass m and carrying a charge q each, are suspended from a common point by insulating massless strings, each of length L. If the particles are in equilibrium and are located at the corners of an equilateral triangle of side a, calculate the charge q on each particle. Assume L >>a .? for UPSC 2024 is part of UPSC preparation. The Question and answers have been prepared according to the UPSC exam syllabus. Information about Three particles, each of mass m and carrying a charge q each, are suspended from a common point by insulating massless strings, each of length L. If the particles are in equilibrium and are located at the corners of an equilateral triangle of side a, calculate the charge q on each particle. Assume L >>a .? covers all topics & solutions for UPSC 2024 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, meanings, examples, exercises and tests below for Three particles, each of mass m and carrying a charge q each, are suspended from a common point by insulating massless strings, each of length L. If the particles are in equilibrium and are located at the corners of an equilateral triangle of side a, calculate the charge q on each particle. Assume L >>a .?.
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