Chapter 20, Problem 47A

To determine

To explain:The phenomenon behind the given situation.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

The electrostatic force is the force of attraction or repulsion between the electrically charged particles. The electrostatic force between the two charges $q_A$ and $q_B$ separated by a distance $d$ is given by Coulomb and can be written as,

  $F\text{ = K}\frac{q_A{q}_B}{d^2}$

Where $\text{ K}$ is a constant, $\text{ K}=9\times {10}^9\text{ N}{\text{.m}}^2/C^2$

Gravitational force is the attractive force among any two bodies in the nature because of the mass accompanying with them. It continuously tries to attract the bodies together and certainly not attempts to push them away from each other. According to the law of universal gravitation, the gravitational force $\left(F\right)$ between the two objects varies directly with the masses of the two objects and inversely with the square of the separation among the two objects. If $A$ and $B$ are the two objects having masses $m_A$ and $m_B$ respectively which are separated by a distance $r$ , then gravitational law can be written as,

  $F\text{ = G}\frac{m_A{m}_B}{r^2}$

Where $\text{ G}$ is gravitational constant, $\text{ K}=6.673\times {10}^{-11}\text{ N}{\text{.m}}^2/{\text{kg}}^2$

Electrostatic force between the electric charges are either attractive or repulsive because charges may be positive or negative. Only vector sum of the electrostatic forces are sensible and are generally very small. But the gravitational forces are always attractive in nature. As the Earth possesses huge mass in it, the gravitational force of attraction between the person and the Earth is very large and more noticeable.