Question

What is the electric field (in N/C) at a point 5.0 cm from the negative charge and along the line between the two charges?

Answer 1

Answer: E = 2.455 x 10^5 N/C

Explanation:

q1 = 1.2x10^-7C

q2 = 6.2x10^-8C

Electric field, E = kQ/r²

where k = 9.0x10^9

since the location is (27 - 5)cm from q1

hence electric field, E1 = k*q1/r²

E1= (9x10^9 x 1.2x10^-7)/(0.22)² = 22314.05 N/C

for q2:

E1 = k*q2/r²

E2 at 5cm

E2 = (9x10^9 x 6.2x10^-8)/(0.05)² = 223200 N/C

Hence, the total electric field at 5cm position is

E = E1 + E2

E = 22314.05 + 223200 = 245514.05 N/C

E = 2.455 x 10^5 N/C