Question

Point charges q1=+2.00μC and q2=−2.00μC are placed at adjacent corners of a square for which the length of each side is 5.00 cm . Point a is at the center of the square, and point b is at the empty corner closest to q2. Take the electric potential to be zero at a distance far from both charges.

Answer 1

Point charges q1=+2.00μC and q2=−2.00μC are placed at adjacent corners of a square for which the length of each side is 5.00 cm.?

Point a is at the center of the square, and point b is at the empty corner closest to q2. Take the electric potential to be zero at a distance far from both charges.  

(a) What is the electric potential at point a due to q1 and q2?  

(b) What is the electric potential at point b?

(c) A point charge q3 = -6.00 μC moves from point a to point b. How much work is done on q3 by the electric forces exerted by q1 and q2?

Answer:

a) the potential is zero at the center .

Explanation:

a) since the two equal-magnitude and oppositely charged particles are equidistant

b)(b) Electric potential at point b, v = Σ kQ/r

r = 5cm = 0.05m

k = 8.99*10^9 N·m²/C²

Q = -2 microcoulomb

v= (8.99*10^9) * (2*10^-6) * (1/√2m - 1) / 0.0500m

v =  -105 324 V

c)workdone = charge * potential

work = -6.00µC * -105324V

work = 0.632 J