how to do this phsyics q?

Question

An experimenter gets a range of data: 8.8 * 10^-19 plus or minus 0.1 * 10^-19. This is an experiment about charge. Is this range of error acceptable?

Answer 1

Hi Sarah,

 

This is about electricity and magnetism, right?  (Coulomb)?  (electrons and protons)

 

One of my Physics textbook says this:

 

Note that 1 C is substantial amount of charge.  In typical electrostatic experiments, where a rubber or glass rod is charged by friction, a net charge of the order of 10^-6 C is obtained.  In other words, only very small fraction of the total available charge is transferred between the rod and the rubbing material.

 

Basically, 1.0 x 10^-6 C or 0.1 x 10^-5 C will be the maximum net charge that can be obtained (by rubbing).  So, this amount of charge (0.1 x 10^-19 C = 1.0 x 10^-20 C) is acceptable (to my knowledge).

 

10^-6  =  1.0 x 10^-6 (1 micro-coulomb)

 

 

Coulomb's law applies exactly only to point charges or particles.

 

From another Physics textbook that I have says this:

 

COULOMB AND YOU

 

By human standards, the coulomb is definitely a great deal of charge.  We are accustomed to taking our charge in far smaller doses, usually in the form of sparks that carry much less than a micro-coulomb (1.0 x 10^-6 C).  Usually robbing will build up charge on an ordinary-size object with density of up to 10 nano-coulombs (1.0 x 10^-9 C) per cm², which is a practical limit beyond which there will tend to be discharging into the air.

 

(0.1 x 10^-19 C = 1.0 x 10^-20 C).  Compare that to 0.1 x 10^-5 C or 1.0 x 10^-6 C.  Much and much smaller.  Right?

 

I hope these concepts from my textbooks helps.