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AP Physics C: E&M
8.1 Electric Charge and Electric Force
AdvancedMCQConceptual19.6k
A schematic diagram showing two small spheres suspended from a single support point at the top center. A vertical dashed line extends downward from the support point. Two straight solid lines representing threads of equal length extend downward and outward from the support point: one to the left ending at a small circular sphere labeled m_1, q_1, and one to the right ending at a small circular sphere labeled m_2, q_2. The left thread makes an angle labeled \theta_1 with the vertical dashed line, and the right thread makes an angle labeled \theta_2 with the vertical dashed line, where \theta_1 is visually noticeably larger than \theta_2. A horizontal dashed line indicates that both spheres are at comparable heights. No other labels, lines, text, or axes appear.
Two charged spheres suspended from a common support point in equilibrium.
Two small conducting spheres of masses \(m_1\) and \(m_2\) carry positive charges \(q_1\) and \(q_2\), respectively, where \(m_1 < m_2\) and \(q_1 > q_2\).

The spheres are suspended from a single pivot by light insulating threads of equal length, coming to static equilibrium with thread angles \(\theta_1\) and \(\theta_2\) relative to the vertical.

Even when the charges are interchanged so that sphere 1 carries \(q_2\) and sphere 2 carries \(q_1\), the equilibrium angles remain unchanged with \(\theta_1 > \theta_2\).

Which of the following best explains why sphere 1 deflects by a greater angle than sphere 2 regardless of which sphere carries the larger charge?

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