• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EST 21:25
CET 03:25
KST 11:25
  • Home
  • Forum
  • Calendar
  • Streams
  • Liquipedia
  • Features
  • Store
  • EPT
  • TL+
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Smash
  • Heroes
  • Counter-Strike
  • Overwatch
  • Liquibet
  • Fantasy StarCraft
  • TLPD
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Blogs
Forum Sidebar
Events/Features
News
Featured News
ByuL: The Forgotten Master of ZvT28Behind the Blue - Team Liquid History Book19Clem wins HomeStory Cup 289HomeStory Cup 28 - Info & Preview13Rongyi Cup S3 - Preview & Info8
Community News
Weekly Cups (Feb 16-22): MaxPax doubles0Weekly Cups (Feb 9-15): herO doubles up2ACS replaced by "ASL Season Open" - Starts 21/0243LiuLi Cup: 2025 Grand Finals (Feb 10-16)46Weekly Cups (Feb 2-8): Classic, Solar, MaxPax win2
StarCraft 2
General
ByuL: The Forgotten Master of ZvT How do you think the 5.0.15 balance patch (Oct 2025) for StarCraft II has affected the game? Oliveira Would Have Returned If EWC Continued Behind the Blue - Team Liquid History Book Weekly Cups (Feb 16-22): MaxPax doubles
Tourneys
StarCraft Evolution League (SC Evo Biweekly) Sea Duckling Open (Global, Bronze-Diamond) PIG STY FESTIVAL 7.0! (19 Feb - 1 Mar) Sparkling Tuna Cup - Weekly Open Tournament How do the "codes" work in GSL?
Strategy
Custom Maps
Map Editor closed ? [A] Starcraft Sound Mod
External Content
Mutation # 514 Ulnar New Year The PondCast: SC2 News & Results Mutation # 513 Attrition Warfare Mutation # 512 Overclocked
Brood War
General
BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/ ACS replaced by "ASL Season Open" - Starts 21/02 TvZ is the most complete match up CasterMuse Youtube A cwal.gg Extension - Easily keep track of anyone
Tourneys
Escore Tournament StarCraft Season 1 [Megathread] Daily Proleagues [LIVE] [S:21] ASL Season Open Day 1 Small VOD Thread 2.0
Strategy
Fighting Spirit mining rates Simple Questions, Simple Answers Zealot bombing is no longer popular? Current Meta
Other Games
General Games
Path of Exile Nintendo Switch Thread Beyond All Reason Battle Aces/David Kim RTS Megathread New broswer game : STG-World
Dota 2
Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion
League of Legends
Heroes of the Storm
Simple Questions, Simple Answers Heroes of the Storm 2.0
Hearthstone
Deck construction bug Heroes of StarCraft mini-set
TL Mafia
Vanilla Mini Mafia Mafia Game Mode Feedback/Ideas TL Mafia Community Thread
Community
General
US Politics Mega-thread Canadian Politics Mega-thread Mexico's Drug War Russo-Ukrainian War Thread Ask and answer stupid questions here!
Fan Clubs
The IdrA Fan Club The herO Fan Club!
Media & Entertainment
[Req][Books] Good Fantasy/SciFi books [Manga] One Piece Anime Discussion Thread
Sports
2024 - 2026 Football Thread Formula 1 Discussion TL MMA Pick'em Pool 2013
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
TL Community
The Automated Ban List
Blogs
ASL S21 English Commentary…
namkraft
Inside the Communication of …
TrAiDoS
My 2025 Magic: The Gathering…
DARKING
Life Update and thoughts.
FuDDx
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 1442 users

Physics help

Blogs > Ftrunkz
Post a Reply
1 2 Next All
Ftrunkz
Profile Blog Joined April 2007
Australia2474 Posts
November 06 2009 02:33 GMT
#1
Studying for end of year exams and im in my home town (2 hours away from uni and anyone i know who could help me) so figured i'd ask for help here. I have a feeling the question is way more basic than im making it and im just owning myself, i really dont know.

[image loading]


any help really appreciated, answer is: 7.17*10^-8 C

*
@NvPinder on twitter | Member of Gamecom Nv | http://www.clan-ta.com | http://www.youtube.com/user/ftrunkz | http://www.twitchtv.com/xghpinder
StorrZerg
Profile Blog Joined February 2008
United States13919 Posts
November 06 2009 02:37 GMT
#2
k so you have the answer so?
Hwaseung Oz fan for life. Swing out, always swing out.
Ftrunkz
Profile Blog Joined April 2007
Australia2474 Posts
November 06 2009 02:42 GMT
#3
I cant work out how to get the answer... It's a previous year's exam question, so i have the answers, not solutions tho =[.
@NvPinder on twitter | Member of Gamecom Nv | http://www.clan-ta.com | http://www.youtube.com/user/ftrunkz | http://www.twitchtv.com/xghpinder
Hot_Bid
Profile Blog Joined October 2003
Braavos36390 Posts
November 06 2009 02:43 GMT
#4
fyi, blog stays open because he's actually asking for help understanding the process of the work rather than trying to find a fast answer
@Hot_Bid on Twitter - ESPORTS life since 2010 - http://i.imgur.com/U2psw.png
Cloud
Profile Blog Joined November 2004
Sexico5880 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-11-06 02:48:26
November 06 2009 02:45 GMT
#5
I'm guessing you can calculate the horizontal force of each balloon (it's direction pointing toward the other balloon) by calculating the horizontal component of the vector caused by the weight of the 5 g object (its direction is the same as the rope, from the balloon towards the object, with a magnitude of 5 grams multiplied by gravity).

Then you say that force is equal to the magnetic force calculated with the Lorentz equation or something.

To be honest, I saw this shit like 5 years ago so I can't point to you exactly what to do.
BlueLaguna on West, msg for game.
Freyr
Profile Blog Joined July 2004
United States500 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-11-06 02:55:26
November 06 2009 02:54 GMT
#6
You know the vertical component of the force on each balloon (the buoyancy of two balloons is counteracting the gravitational force on the weight), and you know the angle thanks to pythagoras.

Use this information in conjunction with Coulomb's law (electrostatics, not magnetism) and the wonders of trigonometry to solve for the charge (which is equal in each balloon).

Essentially what Cloud said, minus the magnetism bit.
GOB
Profile Joined September 2009
50 Posts
November 06 2009 02:59 GMT
#7
[image loading]
Come On!
micronesia
Profile Blog Joined July 2006
United States24755 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-11-06 03:18:39
November 06 2009 03:02 GMT
#8
Just got back from parent teacher conferences (lol) so I'll edit something in in a minute.

edit: The steps I used to do it symbolically (not using a calculator right now)

1) Split the triangle into two right triangles
2) Call the hypotenuse L (which is 100) and one of the legs d/2 (since the entire base of the triangle is 30, d/2 is 15... it's probably smarter to define the entire base of the triangle as 2d but oh well)
3) Find the third leg by using the pythagorean theorum
4) Set up free body diagrams for all three objects... just to check: The mass has a downward force of gravity m*g, and two tension forces each going at an angle that you can calculate by using the triangle from above.
5) Solve for T using this free body diagram.
6) The free body diagram for a balloon should be an upward buoyant force (no downward gravity force since we just assume the buoyant force is that much weaker to compensate), a lateral electrostatic force repelling the opposite balloon, and tension going down at an angle and away from the electrostatic force.
7) Add up the forces in the x direction using Newton's second law. Plug in what you know for T, cos of the angle you can find by using your triangle from earlier, and the other force is simply Coulomb's law kQ^2/d^2.
8) Solve for Q.
ModeratorThere are animal crackers for people and there are people crackers for animals.
Ftrunkz
Profile Blog Joined April 2007
Australia2474 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-11-06 03:22:19
November 06 2009 03:06 GMT
#9
thanks for responses, i've atleast been approaching the question in the right way then :D.

wall of possibly incomprehensible working coming, if anyone can decipher and manage to see where i've gone wrong or where my understanding is completely messed up it'd be greatly appreciated =]:

the force due to the charges of the balloons on each other is:
F= (Q^2 * K) / r^2 = (Q^2 * 8.99 * 10^9) / .36 = 2.50*(10^10) * Q^2

so that force must equal the horozontal force from the tension in the strings.

the verticle componant of the strings combined is mg of the little 5g triangle thing.
therefor the verticle componant on one of the strings is F=(.005 * 9.8) / 2 = 0.0245

then i need to work out the triangles, doing so ended up getting me a 1:0.8 ratio (whole string vs verticle componant). So the tension force in the string is 0.0245 * (1/.08) = 0.03

thennnn i need to work out the horozontal componant, which from the diagram in the question is a ratio of 100:60, so 0.03 * .6 = 0.018375 (i left out a lot of figures earlier, adding them now)

so, that 0.018375 = electrostatic force = 2.5 * 10^10 Q^2

solving for Q gave me 8.57*10^-7, unfortunatly not the answer in the... answers... =[.
@NvPinder on twitter | Member of Gamecom Nv | http://www.clan-ta.com | http://www.youtube.com/user/ftrunkz | http://www.twitchtv.com/xghpinder
gyth
Profile Blog Joined September 2009
657 Posts
November 06 2009 03:08 GMT
#10
I get 5.6e-7C
Are you sure your answer is right?
The plural of anecdote is not data.
paper
Profile Blog Joined September 2004
13196 Posts
November 06 2009 03:09 GMT
#11
On November 06 2009 11:59 GOB wrote:
[image loading]


two circles and your first reaction is mouse eyes?
Hates Fun🤔
NukezaFlyin
Profile Blog Joined May 2009
United States10 Posts
November 06 2009 03:12 GMT
#12
I think your ratios are wrong.
randombum
Profile Blog Joined April 2007
United States2378 Posts
November 06 2009 03:14 GMT
#13
Lol Micronesia always finds these physics threads so quickly. Do you do a search for them whenever you log on or something?
Lemonwalrus
Profile Blog Joined August 2006
United States5465 Posts
November 06 2009 03:14 GMT
#14
Whenever one is made someone pings him on irc.

Seriously.
Ftrunkz
Profile Blog Joined April 2007
Australia2474 Posts
November 06 2009 03:19 GMT
#15
On November 06 2009 12:08 gyth wrote:
I get 5.6e-7C
Are you sure your answer is right?

I'd THINK they would be, since they are probably the ones used to mark the exam in 2007. But it's not outside the realm of possibility =o. If someone else confirms your answer i'll gladly assume its right over the ones givin, haha

and to the guy that said my ratios are wrong: That's probably likely, since i dont know where the hell else i'm going wrong =[
@NvPinder on twitter | Member of Gamecom Nv | http://www.clan-ta.com | http://www.youtube.com/user/ftrunkz | http://www.twitchtv.com/xghpinder
micronesia
Profile Blog Joined July 2006
United States24755 Posts
November 06 2009 03:19 GMT
#16
On November 06 2009 12:14 randombum wrote:
Lol Micronesia always finds these physics threads so quickly. Do you do a search for them whenever you log on or something?

I would have been the first response except I was driving home from parent conferences when this thread was made :p

btw I updated my earlier post to show some suggested steps
ModeratorThere are animal crackers for people and there are people crackers for animals.
gyth
Profile Blog Joined September 2009
657 Posts
November 06 2009 03:20 GMT
#17
Its not a 60:80:100 triangle
The plural of anecdote is not data.
Ftrunkz
Profile Blog Joined April 2007
Australia2474 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-11-06 03:29:41
November 06 2009 03:24 GMT
#18
CRAP figured out where i went wrong i think, as others said its my triangles, i shouldnt of been using 60:100 it should be 30:100 since 60 is horozontal distance between the balloons, not the horozontal distance to the triangle. _should_ be able to get the answer now.

Thanks heaps for the speedy replies everyone much appreciated :D
edit: wait, now im getting gyth's answer, 5.6*10^-7C... lol. I guess the answers were wrong? Either way the questions killed me enough over the past hour or two that i'll assume that answer is right and move on, haha... and yay dragoon.
@NvPinder on twitter | Member of Gamecom Nv | http://www.clan-ta.com | http://www.youtube.com/user/ftrunkz | http://www.twitchtv.com/xghpinder
micronesia
Profile Blog Joined July 2006
United States24755 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-11-06 03:49:32
November 06 2009 03:49 GMT
#19
On November 06 2009 12:08 gyth wrote:
I get 5.6e-7C
Are you sure your answer is right?

Hm I got the same thing using google to calculate everything (which sucks so I have no confidence in this).

I'm trying to decide if there is a mistake in this method...

sqrt((2*.005*9.8*.3^3)/(9*10^9*sqrt(1-.3^2)))
ModeratorThere are animal crackers for people and there are people crackers for animals.
AcrossFiveJulys
Profile Blog Joined September 2005
United States3612 Posts
November 06 2009 03:55 GMT
#20
On November 06 2009 11:59 GOB wrote:
[image loading]


Rofl. So I guess the whole face is edible?
1 2 Next All
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
PiGosaur Cup
01:00
#70
PiGStarcraft540
Liquipedia
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
PiGStarcraft540
RuFF_SC2 192
StarCraft: Brood War
GuemChi 1983
Artosis 711
Dota 2
LuMiX1
Counter-Strike
FalleN 2136
taco 659
Super Smash Bros
hungrybox306
Other Games
summit1g11889
C9.Mang0313
Maynarde122
ViBE46
Mew2King31
minikerr7
Organizations
Other Games
gamesdonequick1058
Counter-Strike
PGL515
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
sctven
[ Show 14 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• HeavenSC 7
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• Migwel
• sooper7s
StarCraft: Brood War
• RayReign 19
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
Dota 2
• masondota21132
League of Legends
• Stunt125
Upcoming Events
CasterMuse Showmatch
6h 35m
Light vs Queen
WardiTV Winter Champion…
9h 35m
OSC
21h 35m
The PondCast
1d 7h
Replay Cast
1d 21h
Korean StarCraft League
3 days
CranKy Ducklings
3 days
SC Evo Complete
3 days
Replay Cast
3 days
Sparkling Tuna Cup
4 days
[ Show More ]
uThermal 2v2 Circuit
4 days
Replay Cast
5 days
Wardi Open
5 days
Replay Cast
5 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

Proleague 2026-02-22
LiuLi Cup: 2025 Grand Finals
Underdog Cup #3

Ongoing

KCM Race Survival 2026 Season 1
Acropolis #4 - TS5
Jeongseon Sooper Cup
Spring Cup 2026
WardiTV Winter 2026
PiG Sty Festival 7.0
Nations Cup 2026
PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026
IEM Kraków 2026
BLAST Bounty Winter 2026
BLAST Bounty Winter Qual
eXTREMESLAND 2025
SL Budapest Major 2025

Upcoming

[S:21] ASL SEASON OPEN 2nd Round
[S:21] ASL SEASON OPEN 2nd Round Qualifier
Acropolis #4 - TS6
Acropolis #4
IPSL Spring 2026
CSLAN 4
HSC XXIX
uThermal 2v2 2026 Main Event
Bellum Gens Elite Stara Zagora 2026
RSL Revival: Season 4
PGL Astana 2026
BLAST Rivals Spring 2026
CCT Season 3 Global Finals
FISSURE Playground #3
IEM Rio 2026
PGL Bucharest 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 1
BLAST Open Spring 2026
ESL Pro League S23 Finals
ESL Pro League S23 Stage 1&2
TLPD

1. ByuN
2. TY
3. Dark
4. Solar
5. Stats
6. Nerchio
7. sOs
8. soO
9. INnoVation
10. Elazer
1. Rain
2. Flash
3. EffOrt
4. Last
5. Bisu
6. Soulkey
7. Mini
8. Sharp
Sidebar Settings...

Advertising | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use | Contact Us

Original banner artwork: Jim Warren
The contents of this webpage are copyright © 2026 TLnet. All Rights Reserved.