PHYSICS INVESTIGATORY PROJECT

2024-25

A PROJECT REPORT ON

To estimate the charge induced on each one of the two

identical Styrofoam (or pith) balls suspended in a vertical
plane by making use of Coulomb's law.

SUBMITTED BY
NAMAN THAKUR
REG NO. 24BSIS0114

UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF

MS.SHREYAH.S.B
PGT PHYSICS
 CERTIFICATE
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS

This is to certify that Naman Thakur student of Grade 12 has successfully

prepared the document on an investigatory project titled “To estimate the
charge induced on each one of the two identical Styrofoam (or pith)
balls suspended in a vertical plane by making use of Coulomb's law.”
under my guidance Ms. Shreya S.B (PGT Physics). The document is a
result of her efforts and endeavors. It is found worthy of acceptance as an
investigatory project for the subject Chemistry according to the guidelines
issued by CBSE, NEW DELHI, during the year 2024-2025.

Signature of Subject Teacher Signature of External Examiner

Signature of Principal
 Acknowledgement

First and foremost, I thank my teacher, Ms. Shreya S B for her guidance
and support throughout the project. Her insights and encouragement
were invaluable in shaping my understanding of the
subject.Additionally, I appreciate the resources and facilities provided
by BS International School and our Principal Mrs. Mildred Tauro
Ma’am, which were essential for conducting my research.Lastly, I
would like to acknowledge my family for their unwavering support
and motivation. Their belief in me inspired me to work diligently on
this project.

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Sl no Content Page no.
1 Certificate 02
2 Acknowledgement 03
3 Aim 05
4 Introduction 06-09
5 Requirements 10
6 Procedure 11-12
7 Observations 13-14
8 Results 15
9 Precautions 16
10 Sources of error 17
11 Conclusion 17
12 Bibliography 18

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 AIM
The aim of this project is:
To estimate the charge induced on each of two identical
Styrofoam (or pith) balls suspended in a vertical plane by
applying Coulomb’s law of electrostatic force.
This project intends to demonstrate the principles of
electrostatics and the practical application of Coulomb’s law
in determining the magnitude of electric charge.

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 INTRODUCTION
Coulomb:
Charles-Augustin de Coulomb (born June 14, 1736,
Angoulême, France—died August 23, 1806, Paris) was a
French physicist best known for the formulation of
Coulomb’s law, which states that the force between two
electrical charges is proportional to the product of the
charges and inversely proportional to the square of the
distance between them. The Coulomb force is one of the
principal forces involved in atomic reactions.

Background of the Experiment:

Electrostatics is the branch of physics that deals with the
study of stationary electric charges. One of the fundamental
principles in electrostatics is Coulomb's law, which
quantifies the force between two point charges
This law describes the force between charged objects, which
can either attract or repel depending on the nature of the
charges (like charges repel, unlike charges attract).

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Importance of the Experiment:
The interaction of charged particles is fundamental in
many fields of physics and everyday life. Understanding
how charges influence each other is critical for applications
such as static electricity, the behavior of capacitors, and the
design of electrical circuits. This experiment provides an
opportunity to observe and measure the electrostatic force
between two charges in a simple, controlled environment.
By observing the repulsion between two identical, charged
balls suspended in air, we can apply Coulomb’s law to
estimate the charge on each ball.
In addition, non-conductive materials like Styrofoam or
pith balls are commonly used in electrostatic experiments
because they don’t allow free movement of charge, which
makes them ideal for observing electrostatic interactions
without interference from other effects like grounding.

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Objective:
The objective of this project is to estimate the charge
induced on each of two identical Styrofoam (or pith) balls
suspended in a vertical plane. The electrostatic force of
repulsion between the balls will be measured, and
Coulomb's law will be applied to calculate the magnitude of
the charge on each ball.

Scope of the Project:

In this experiment, two identical balls will be charged and
suspended by threads. The repulsive force between the two
charges will cause the balls to move apart until they reach
an equilibrium position. By measuring the distance between
the balls and the angle of suspension, and knowing the
mass of each ball, we will use Coulomb's law to estimate the
charge on each ball. The results will help in understanding
the relationship between charge, force, and distance in
electrostatics.
A neutral particle is not affected by electrical forces.
Nevertheless, a charged object will attract a neutral
macroscopic object by the process of electrical polarization.

For example, if a negatively charged rod is brought close to

an isolated, neutral insulator, the electrons in the atoms of
the insulator will be pushed slightly away from the negative
rod, and the positive nuclei will be attracted slightly toward
the negative rod. We say that the rod.has induced
polarization in the insulator, but its net charge is still zero.

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The polarization of charge in the insulator is small, but now
its positive charge is a bit closer to the negative rod, and its
negative charge is a bit farther away. Thus, the positive
charge is attracted to the rod more strongly than the
negative charge is repelled, and there is an overall net
attraction.

If the negative rod is brought near an isolated, neutral

conductor, the conductor will also be polarized. In the
conductor, electrons are free to move through the material,
and some of them are repelled over to the opposite surface
of the conductor, leaving the surface near the negative rod
with a net positive charge. The conductor has been
polarized, and will now be attracted to the charged rod.

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 REQUIREMENTS

To perform the experiment and estimate the charge induced

on two identical Styrofoam (or pith) balls using Coulomb’s
law, the following materials and equipment are required:
1. Styrofoam (or Pith) Balls
- Two identical lightweight balls for observing electrostatic
forces.

2. Lightweight Thread
- Two pieces of thin, non-conductive thread (e.g., cotton or
nylon) to suspend the balls.

3. Support Stand
- A sturdy stand with a horizontal bar to suspend the
tthreads securely.

4. Protractor
- For measuring the angle of displacement (θ) formed by
the threads with the vertical.

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 PROCEDURE

1. Setup the Apparatus

Suspend two identical Styrofoam or pith balls from a
horizontal bar using thin, lightweight threads.
Ensure the threads are equal in length and are attached
securely to the balls and the support stand.

2. Charge the Balls

Rub a plastic rod (or comb) with a piece of wool or silk to
generate static electricity.
Gently touch the charged rod to each ball to transfer an
equal charge to both.
Ensure you charge each ball with the same method and
duration for consistency.

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3. Observe the Repulsion
The two charged balls will repel each other due to
electrostatic force, and their threads will move apart.
Allow the balls to stabilize at their equilibrium positions.

4. Measure the Distances

Use a ruler or measuring tape to measure:
The horizontal distance (r) between the centers of the balls.
The vertical length (L) of the threads.

5. Record the Angle

Using a protractor, measure the angle of displacement (θ)
between each thread and the vertical.

6. Calculate the Force and Charge

Calculate the tension in the threads using the weight of the
balls (T = mg), where m is the mass of the ball and g is
acceleration due to gravity.
Resolve the tension into vertical and horizontal components
to find the electrostatic force (F).
Apply Coulomb's law to estimate the charge q on each ball:
2
𝐹𝑟
𝑞 = 𝑘

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 OBSERVATIONS

In this experiment, the following observations are recorded

to estimate the charge induced on the Styrofoam or pith
balls:

1. Initial Setup:
- The two Styrofoam (or pith) balls are suspended and
initially touch each other, ensuring no initial displacement.

2. After Charging:
- Upon charging, the balls repel each other, and their
equilibrium
positions are noted.

3. Measured Parameters:
- Length of Thread (L): Measured using a ruler.
- Horizontal Distance Between Balls(r): Distance between
the centers of the two balls after repulsion.
-Angle of Displacement (θ): Angle formed by the threads
with the vertical, measured using a protractor.

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 4.Mass of Balls (m):
- Recorded using a precise weighing scale.

5. Observational Variations:
- Environmental factors (e.g., humidity) affecting the
charge retention.
- The time taken for the balls to stabilize at equilibrium.

Parameter Value Units

Length of thread (L) 20.0 cm

Distance between balls (r) 3.0 cm

Angle of displacement (θ) 8.6 degrees

Mass of one ball (m) 0.01 Kg

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 RESULTS

𝑇𝑐𝑜𝑠(θ) = 𝑚𝑔 ⇒(1)
2
𝑘𝑞
𝑇𝑠𝑖𝑛(θ) = 2 ⇒(2)
𝑟
2 9 2 −2
taking (𝑔 = 9. 8 𝑚/𝑠 ) and (𝑘 = 8. 99 × 10 𝑁𝑚 𝐶 )

dividing equations (2) and (1) and rearranging we get:

2
𝑚𝑔𝑟 𝑡𝑎𝑛(θ)
𝑞 = 𝑘
⇒ (3)

substituting values in equation (3) we get:

The charge induced on the styrofoam balls is:

−7
𝑞 = 2. 19 × 10 𝐶

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 PRECAUTIONS
1. For obtaining accurate and reliable results work on a dry
day.

2. The apparatus should not be disturbed by air current, or

vibrations, etc., during the experiment.

3. Measure r very accurately.

4. The mass of the styrofoam ball is very small so you have

to use a very accurate chemical balance and determine the
mass as precisely as you can.

5. The divergence between the balls should be small so that r

is a linear distance.

SOURCES OF ERROR
1. It is very difficult to procure exactly similar styrofoam
balls.

2. The quantities involved are very small so chances of

personal errors are large especially so, because the
experiment cannot be repeated as the same charge and
cannot be induced again and again.

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 CONCLUSION

In this experiment, we explored how charges interact by

applying Coulomb's law to suspended Styrofoam balls. By
carefully measuring the distance and angles after charging
the balls, we calculated the amount of charge on each one.

This hands-on project helped us understand how like

charges repel and gave us insight into how forces and
distances relate in electrostatics. While there were some
challenges, like environmental factors and measurement
accuracy, we managed to achieve reliable results.

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 BIBLIOGRAPHY

1)https://studylib.net/
2)http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/
3)Mercer University Physics Lab Resources.
4)https://www.studocu.com
5)https://www.britannica.com

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