In: Physics
There are two identical, positively charged conducting spheres fixed in space. The spheres are 38.2 cm38.2 cm apart (center to center) and repel each other with an electrostatic force of ?1=0.0705 NF1=0.0705 N . A thin conducting wire connects the spheres, redistributing the charge on each sphere. When the wire is removed, the spheres still repel, but with a force of ?2=0.100 NF2=0.100 N . The Coulomb force constant is ?=1/(4??0)=8.99×109 N⋅m2/C2k=1/(4πϵ0)=8.99×109 N⋅m2/C2 .