The Lightning Rod Observatory · AI Generator #GEN-ED36E880

Physics · electromagnetism

Problem

A meteorological observatory uses a specialized lightning detection system consisting of two parallel vertical conducting rods, each of height

h = 12\;\text{m}

, separated by a horizontal distance

d = 8\;\text{m}

. During a thunderstorm, the electric field between the rods becomes uniform and horizontal, pointing from the left rod to the right rod with magnitude

E = 15000\;\text{V/m}

. The observatory places a small conducting sphere of radius

r = 2\;\text{cm}

and mass

m = 50\;\text{g}

exactly halfway between the rods at ground level. The sphere is then given a charge and released from rest. If the sphere reaches the right rod in exactly

t = 0.8\;\text{s}

, what charge was placed on the sphere?

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