Answer to Question #317988 in Physics for paul

Question

Two neutrally-charged bodies are separated by 2cm. Electrons are moved from one body and placed on the second body until a force of 1.7x10^-7 N is generated between them. How many electrons were transferred between the bodies? 

Answer 1

The Coulomb's law says

$$F=k\frac{|q_1||q_2|}{r^2}$$

The charges of bodies have the same magnitude, so

$$q=\sqrt{\frac{Fr^2}{k}}=\sqrt{\frac{1.7*10^{-7}*0.02}{9*10^9}}=6.1*10^{-10}\:\rm C$$

The number of electrons transferred between the bodies

$$N=\frac{q}{e}=\frac{6.1*10^{-10}}{1.6*10^{-19}}=3.8*10^{9}$$