Question

As a space shuttle moves through the dilute ionized gas of Earth's ionosphere, the shuttle's potential is typically changed by -1.1 V during one revolution. Assuming the shuttle is a conducting sphere of radius 10 m, estimate the amount of charge it collects.

Answer 1

Answer:

The amount of charge the space shuttle collects is -1.224nC

Explanation:

The magnitude of Electric potential is given as;

V = kq/r

where;

V is the electric potential in volts

k is coulomb's constant

r is the radius of the sphere or distance moved by the charge

given;  V = -1.1 V, k = 8.99 x 10⁹ Nm²/C², r = 10m

Substituting this values in the above equation, we estimate the amount of charge space shuttle collects.

q = (V*r)/k

q = (-1.1 *10)/(8.99 x 10⁹ )

q = -1.224 X 10⁻⁹ C

q = -1.224nC

Therefore, the amount of charge the space shuttle collects is -1.224nC