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Point charges q_1 = +5.00 muC and q_2 = 5.00 muC are placed at adjacent comers o

ID: 1512521 • Letter: P

Question

Point charges q_1 = +5.00 muC and q_2 = 5.00 muC are placed at adjacent comers of a square for which the length of each side is 5.00 cm. Point a is at the center of the square. What is the electric field (magnitude and direction) at point a due to the two charges? What is the electric potential at point a due to the two charges? (Take the electric potential to be zero at a distance infinitely far from both charges) A point charge q_3 = -8.00 muC is placed at point a, what is the electric force (magnitude and direction) exerted on charge q3 by the two charges q_3 and q_2? How much work does it take to move charge from point a to a point that is infinitely far from both charges?

Explanation / Answer

Here

q1 = q2 = 5 * 10^-6 c

r = 0.05/sqrt(2)

r = 0.035 m

a)

the x-components of electric field due to the two charges at

point a cancel only y-component remains


so

net electric field is E = 2 * k * q / r^2   * sin (theta)

E = 2 * 9 * 10^9 * 5 * 10^-6 / sqr(0.035) * 1/sqrt(2)


E = 51.95 * 10^6 N/c---------------------downward direction


b)

electric potential is

V = 2 * k * q/ r

V = 2.57 * 10^6 V


c)

F = q3 * E

F = 8 * 10^-6 * 51.95 * 10^6

F = 415.6 N--------------------------upward

d)

work W = q3 * V

W = 8 * 10^-6   *   2.57 * 10^6


W = 20.56 J