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Consider three 1-nC magnitude charges B, C, and D configured as shown in Fig. 1.

ID: 1316125 • Letter: C

Question

Consider three 1-nC magnitude charges B, C, and D configured as shown in Fig. 1. Each small square in the

grid has sides of 0.2 m.

7. What is the magnitude of the electric field in N/C at point A due to the charge configuration in Fig. 1?

8. What is the direction of the electric field at point A due to the charge configuration in Fig. 1? (options: to the right, to the left, up, down, some other angle, Trick question! The electric field doesn't have a direction)

9. What is the magnitude of the electric force in nN exerted on a +1 nC charge placed at point A in Fig. 1?

10. What is the direction of the electric force exerted on a +1 nC charge placed at point A in Fig. 1?  (options: to the right, to the left, up, down, some other angle, Trick question! The electric field doesn't have a direction)

11. What is the magnitude of the electric force in nN exerted on a ?2 nC charge placed at point A in Fig. 1?

12. What is the direction of the electric force exerted on a ?2 nC test charge placed at point A in Fig. 1? (options: to the right, to the left, up, down, some other angle, Trick question! The electric field doesn't have a direction)

13. What is the electric potential in J/C at point A due to charge B in Fig. 1?

14. What is the direction of the electric potential at point A due to charge B in Fig. 1? (options: to the right, to the left, up, down, some other angle, Trick question! The electric field doesn't have a direction)

15. What is the electric potential in J/C at point A due to charge C in Fig. 1?

16. What is the direction of the electric potential at point A due to charge C in Fig. 1? (options: to the right, to the left, up, down, some other angle, Trick question! The electric field doesn't have a direction)

17. What is the electric potential in J/C at point A due to charge D in Fig. 1?

18. What is the direction of the electric potential at point A due to charge D in Fig. 1? (options: to the right, to the left, up, down, some other angle, Trick question! The electric field doesn't have a direction)

19. What is the electric potential in J/C at point A due to the charge configuration in Fig. 1?

20. What is the direction of the electric potential at point A due to the charge configuration in Fig. 1? (options: to the right, to the left, up, down, some other angle, Trick question! The electric field doesn't have a direction)

Explanation / Answer

B = C = -1 * 10-9 C at a distance r = 1 m from point A

D = 1 * 10-9 C at a distance r = 2 m from A

k = 8.99 * 109 N.m2 / C2 is the Coulomb's force constant.

7. What is the magnitude of the electric field in N/C at point A due to the charge configuration in Fig. 1?

X component of the electric field at A due to the charge configuration in Fig. 1 is,

Ex = k B cos 180 / 12 + k C cos 0 / 12 + k D cos 270 / 22

Ex = 8.99 * 109 * 10-9 * [-1 + 1 + 0]

Ex = 0 N/C

Y component of the electric field at A due to the charge configuration in Fig. 1 is,

Ey = k B sin 180 / 12 + k C sin 0 / 12 + k D sin 270 / 22

Ey = 8.99 * 109 * 10-9 * [0 + 0 - 1/4]

Ey = - 2.2475 N/C

Thus, the magnitude of the electric field in N/C at point A due to the charge configuration in Fig. 1 is,

E = (Ex2 + Ey2)1/2

E = 5.05 N/C

8. What is the direction of the electric field at point A due to the charge configuration in Fig. 1?

The direction is downward. Electric field is a vector quantity and has direction.

9. What is the magnitude of the electric force in nN exerted on a +1 nC charge placed at point A in Fig. 1?

Magnitude of force on charge q = 1 * 10-9 C is,

F = q E

F = 1 * 10-9 * 5.05

F = 5.05 * 10-9 N

10. What is the direction of the electric force exerted on a +1 nC charge placed at point A in Fig. 1?

The direction is downward.

11. What is the magnitude of the electric force in nN exerted on a ?2 nC charge placed at point A in Fig. 1?

Magnitude of force on charge q = -2 * 10-9 C is,

F = q E

F = -2 * 10-9 * 5.05

F = - 10.1 * 10-9 N = -1.01 * 10-8 N

12. What is the direction of the electric force exerted on a ?2 nC test charge placed at point A in Fig. 1?

The direction is upward.

13. What is the electric potential in J/C at point A due to charge B in Fig. 1?

V = k q /r

V = - 8.99 * 109 * 1 * 10-9 / 1

V = - 8.99 J/C

14. What is the direction of the electric potential at point A due to charge B in Fig. 1?

Electric potential is a scalar quantity and hence doesn't have direction.

15. What is the electric potential in J/C at point A due to charge C in Fig. 1?

V = k q /r

V = - 8.99 * 109 * 1 * 10-9 / 1

V = - 8.99 J/C

16. What is the direction of the electric potential at point A due to charge C in Fig. 1?

Electric potential is a scalar quantity and hence doesn't have direction.

17. What is the electric potential in J/C at point A due to charge D in Fig. 1?

V = k q /r

V = 8.99 * 109 * 1 * 10-9 / 2

V = 4.495 J/C

18. What is the direction of the electric potential at point A due to charge D in Fig. 1?

Electric potential is a scalar quantity and hence doesn't have direction.

19. What is the electric potential in J/C at point A due to the charge configuration in Fig. 1?

V = k B / 1 + k C / 1 + k D / 2

V = 8.99 * 109 * 10-9 * [- 1 - 1 + (1/2)]

V = -13.385 J/C

20. What is the direction of the electric potential at point A due to the charge configuration in Fig. 1?

Electric potential is a scalar quantity and hence doesn't have direction.