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This question relates to Coulomb’s Law, which gives the force per unit charge due to the interaction between stationary charges.

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When providing numerical answers you may express them using scientific notation.  Express values to four significant figures and use the values of physical constants as provided in the course notes, and take the relative permittivity of air to be 1.0005.

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If you got the wrong answer, did you remember to

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The $E$-field due to a point charge is

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$\\displaystyle{q\\over 4 \\pi \\varepsilon_0 \\varepsilon_r r^2}$

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radially away from the point charge.  The force experienced in an electric field is generally $\\vec{F}=q\\vec{E}$, so the force on a point charge, $q_1$ due to another point charge, $q_2$ has a magnitude of

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$\\displaystyle q_1 {q_2\\over 4 \\pi \\varepsilon_0 \\varepsilon_r r^2}$.

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Since typically $\\varepsilon_r\\ge1$, any material between the two charges tends to reduce the force relative to the point charges in vacuum.  It is important to note that the question asks for the percentage by which the force is reduced, not the percentage of the original force that remains.

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The force due to gravity is $mg$ towards the centre of the Earth, so one can calculate the force due the electric field and work out the mass that when mulitplied by $g$ has the same magnitude.

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Approximate value for the acceleration due to gravity on Earth's surface (m/s/s).

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Permittivity of free space in F/m.

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Mass that would balance the force between the charges on Earth (kg).

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Distance of the second point charge from the first in cm.

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Randomised relative permittivity of material substituting for air (no units)

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Magnitude of charge for which the electric field is originating in $\\mu$C, randomised in steps of 0.5$\\mu$C from 0.5 to 2.5$\\mu$C, but different from $q_1$.

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Relative permittivity of air (dimensionless quantity).

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Magnitude of charge for which the force is to be obtained in $\\mu$C, randomised in steps of 0.5$\\mu$C from 0.5 to 2.5.

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Coulomb force on one charge due to another, in N, is given by $q_1q_2/4\\pi\\varepsilon r^2$.

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Using Coulomb's Law, calculate the force on a {q1} $\\mu$C point charge due to the electric field from a {q2} $\\mu$C charge when they are separated by {r1} cm of air.

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$|\\vec{F}| =$ [[0]] Newtons. 

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By what percentage is the force reduced when the air is replaced by a material with relative permittivity, $\\varepsilon_r =\\var{epsmat}$?  

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The force is reduced by [[0]] %

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If in this particular case the gravitational force at the surface of the Earth balances the electric force on the $\\var{q1}\\,\\mu\\text{C}$ point charge due to the $\\var{q2}\\,\\mu\\text{C}$ point charge, what is its mass?  Take the accelleration due to gravity at the Earth's surface to be {g} N/kg.

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The mass balanced by the electric field force is [[0]] kg

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