Weds.

Prd 3
Kristy Michel

Electrostatic Part 2 – Pith Ball Lab

Purpose:
The purpose of this lab is to be able to determine the electrostatic force between two
charged pith balls by using the mass, the length of the strings and the angle between the
strings of the two pith balls.

Apparatus:

Figure 1 Figure 2

Procedure:
1. Obtain the equipment for the lab: the pvc pipe, fur or wool, ruler, protractor, and
two pith balls on a stand.
2. Untangle the strings of the two pith balls on the stand.
3. Rub both pith balls with your finger to neutralize them.
4. Using a ruler, record the length of the string from the focal point to the center of
the ball.
5. Charge the pipe with the fur/wool, and place the pipe near the pith balls.
6. When both pith balls repel each other, measure the angle at which both of the
strings form.
7. Record the data, and answer the following questions.

Data:
Length of the strings (l) Angle between the strings (θ)
16 cm = 0.16 m 8°
Conclusion:
a) The electrostatic force produced by the two pith balls can be calculated using
Coulomb's electric force law. The electrostatic force (Fe) was found by
multiplying the electrostatic constant (k = 8.99 x 109) by charges of the two pith
balls (q1 and q2). Then we divide this product by the square of length of the
distance between the two pith balls.
b) As the distance between the pith balls increase, the electrostatic force decreases
whereas when the distance decrease, the electrostatic force increases.
c) From this experiment, we found out that the charges of the pith balls could have
been inaccurate if we measured the angle incorrectly with the protractor. The pith
balls could have changed charges during the experiment due to their nature of
being easily affected by charge.

Lab Questions:
When the pith balls have reached their final charged position and are at rest, what do we
know about the forces acting on them?

The pith balls both repel each other as they are both oppositely charged.

T (Tension) Fe (Force Fg (Force

Name the force: A B Electricity) C Gravity)

To determine the electrostatic force, label the vector diagram below of the forces acting
on the pith ball. θ /2

Fg T

Fe

1. Using your vector diagram above, determine the ratio of Fe to Fg in terms of θ/2.

tan(θ /2) = Fe/Fg

2. Write an equation for the electrostatic force on the pith ball in terms of angle θ /2
and the weight of the pith ball.
Fe = Fg*tan(θ /2)
3. Calculate r/2 (half the distance between the two charged pith balls) using the
length (l) and the angle θ /2. Then double it to find r. Show your work.

r length * sin( θ / 2)
=
2 2
r
= 0.16sin4/(2)
2
r
= 0.01m
2

r = length*sin(θ /2)
r = 16sin(4)
r = 0.02m

4. Set the equation for Fe written in 2. equal to Coulombs Electrostatic Force Law
Fe = k (q1) (q2) / r 2 Assume q1 and q2 are equal and replace them both with q.
Solve for q.
k * q1 * q2
mg*tan(θ /2) =
r2
k * q2
mg*tan(θ /2) =
r2

r 2 * Fg * tan( θ/ 2)
q= k

5. To calculate the charge q, assume that both charges are equal, and remember to
use the distance measured between the charged pith balls when solving
Coulombs’ Law to determine the charge on each pith ball.

k * q2
Fe = r2
r 2 * Fg * tan( θ/ 2)
q= k

(0.07 )(1*10 −5
kg )( 4 *10 −
4
)
q= 8.99 *10 9

q = 3.12*10-20 C

Analysis
1. What sources of error might have contributed to the accuracy of your final
calculation for q?
 Justify your answer with reference to the possible erroneous and inexact
measurements used.
Error in measurement of the angle and length contribute to the accuracy of the final
measurements for q. Human error in measurement is present in this experiment.

2. What if the angle between the pith balls is 40° and the mass of each pith ball
had a mass of 0.3 kg. The length of the string is 0.3 m. Find

a. The weight of the pith ball.

weight = mg
mg = 0.3kg x 9.8m/s2
= 2.94 kg m/s2

b. the electrostatic force between them and

tan 20° = Fe/weight
0.364 = Fe/2.94 N
Fe = 1.07 N

c. the charge on each ball, assuming their charges are equal.

r 2 * Fg * tan( θ/ 2)
q= k

r = 2*0.3sin20 = 0.205
(0.205 ) 2 * 2.94 * tan( 20 )
q= 8.99 *10 9
q = 2.24*10-6 C