2005/11/04 by Peretz D. Partensky, Partensky, Peretz D., Michael B. Partensky +1
Physics and Astronomy · #FOS: Physical sciences #Physics Education (physics.ed-ph) #Popular Physics (physics.pop-ph) #physics.ed-ph #physics.pop-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.physics/0511032
11 pages, 4 figures
arxiv created 2005/11/14 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01
A popular problem asks for the equilibrium separation between two identical (mutually repelling) charges suspended by strings fastened to a common point. We slightly modify this problem by considering two opposite (mutually attracting) charges and adding a finite separation between the suspension points. The discussion leading to the solution introduces important physical phenomena including "catastrophic" behavior and hysterisis.