The solution at revision #20392 of , by Valter. This is not the current version.

Statement

6.1.9. Two identically charged balls of mass , suspended from the same point on threads of length , moved apart so that the angle between the threads became a right angle. Determine the charge of the balls.

For problem $6.1.9$
For problem

Solution

In this case, 3 forces act on each ball: the tension force , directed along the thread (at an angle of to the horizontal); the gravity force ; and the Coulomb force .

Let us write Newton's second law in projections onto the horizontal and vertical axes:

From this, the equalities for the gravity force and the Coulomb force follow:

Dividing one equation by the other, we obtain:

This equality can be rewritten in the form:

From where we express the charge of the balls:

Answer