Re: Electrostatics problem

[John Mallinckrodt <ajmallinckro@CSUPOMONA.EDU>]

On Sun, 12 Sep 1999, JACK L. URETSKY (C)1998; HEP DIVISION,              ARGONNE NATIONAL LAB ARGONNE, IL 60439 wrote:

>         There is, in fact a second solution to the static problem for
> sufficiently large force.  ...

Jack,

Perhaps a rereading of the question is in order.  It begins with the
problem statement,

  "Two small spheres of mass m are suspended from strings ..."
                                                  ^^^^^^^

Furthermore, Tom made clear that his question was not about the solution
to the problem when he wrote,

  "... my question is this: Can this be solved using ONLY the
   condition of translational equilibrium ..."

Michael's solution to the problem is simple and elegant but, because it
implicitly relies on the assumption of rotational equilibrium, does not
address the question.

John Mallinckrodt      mailto:ajm@csupomona.edu
Cal Poly Pomona          http://www.csupomona.edu/~ajm