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Statement

$7.1.23^*.$ Find the period of small vibrations of a body of mass $m$, whose charge is $q$, inside a smooth sphere of radius $R$, if the charge $Q$ is fixed at the top point of the sphere.

 For problem $7.1.23^*$
For problem $7.1.23^*$

Solution

 Forces acting on the system of two charges
Forces acting on the system of two charges
Forces acting on the system of two charges

Considering the fact that oscillations are small, $\varphi \ll 1$, we could use the approximations for small angle $\varphi$ $$\sin\varphi \approx \varphi; \quad\cos\varphi \approx 1\quad(1)$$ From where, we could approximate that the distance between charges remains approximately the same $$r\approx2R$$ Thus, the сoulomb's law for two charges $$F_c = \frac{1}{4\pi\varepsilon_0}\frac{qQ}{4R^2}$$ Let's write Newton's second law on a tangential trajectory, in the direction of motion of a charge of mass $m$ $$ma = mg \sin\varphi + F_c \sin\frac{\varphi}{2}$$ Considering the approximation $(1)$ and the expression $$ma = -mg\frac{x}{R} - \frac{x}{2R} \frac{1}{4\pi\varepsilon_0}\frac{qQ}{4R^2}$$ $$a = -x\left(\frac{g}{R}+\frac{qQ}{32\pi\varepsilon_0mR^3}\right)$$ Solving the equation of harmonic oscillations $(\ddot{x}+\omega^2x(t)=0)$, we could obtain the value for angular velocity $$\omega =\sqrt{\frac{g}{R}+\frac{qQ}{32\pi\varepsilon_0mR^3}}$$ From here the period of oscillation $$\boxed{T=\frac{2\pi}{\omega} = \frac{2\pi}{\sqrt{\frac{g}{R}+\frac{qQ}{32\pi\varepsilon_0mR^3}}}}$$ Since the expression under the square root cannot be less than zero, the ratio at which there will be no oscillations $$\frac{g}{R}+\frac{qQ}{32\pi\varepsilon_0mR^3} > 0 \Leftrightarrow \boxed{\frac{qQ}{32\pi\varepsilon_0R^2}>-mg}$$

Answer

$$T=2\pi\left(\frac{g}{R}+\frac{qQ}{32\pi\varepsilon_0mR^3}\right)^{-1/2}\text{ with }\frac{qQ}{32\pi\varepsilon_0R^2}>-mg$$