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State Coulomb's law of force between electric charges - Leaving Cert Physics - Question 9 - 2010
Question 9
State Coulomb's law of force between electric charges. An electric field exists around a charged object. (i) How would you detect the presence of an electric field... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:State Coulomb's law of force between electric charges - Leaving Cert Physics - Question 9 - 2010
Step 1
State Coulomb's law of force between electric charges.
Answer
Coulomb's law states that the force between two electric charges is directly proportional to the product of the magnitudes of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. Mathematically, it can be expressed as: where is the electrostatic force, and are the charges, and is the distance between the charges.
Step 2
How would you detect the presence of an electric field?
Answer
To detect the presence of an electric field, you can use an electroscope or an electric field meter. With an electroscope, the presence of charge causes a divergence of the leaves inside the device. Alternatively, an electric field meter can measure the field directly.
Step 3
Step 4
How does the lightning conductor prevent damage to the building?
Answer
A lightning conductor prevents damage to the building by providing a safe path for the electric current from a lightning strike to flow into the ground. This is achieved through a metal rod that is mounted on the building, directing the energy away from the structure. The conductor effectively reduces the electric potential differential, allowing the current to follow the path of least resistance during the strike.
Step 5
Suggest a suitable material for a lightning conductor.
Answer
A suitable material for a lightning conductor is a metal with high conductivity, such as copper or aluminum. These materials are chosen due to their ability to efficiently conduct electricity, thereby minimizing the risk of damage during a lightning event.