Question

Point charge μC is located at x =, y = , point charge is located at x = 0m. What are (a)the magnitude and (b)direction of the total electric force that these charges exert on a third point charge Q = μC at x = m, y = 0?

Answer 1

Answer: The question has some details missing. here is the complete question ; Point charge 1.5 μC is located at x = 0, y = 0.30 m, point charge -1.5 μC is located at x = 0 y = -0.30m. What are (a)the magnitude and (b)direction of the total electric force that these charges exert on a third point charge Q = 5.0 μC at x = 0.40 m, y = 0

Explanation:

• a) First of all find the distance between the two charges;

• x = 0, y = 0.30  and x = 0.40 m, y = 0

• r = √( 0.4² + 0.3²)

• = 0.5m

hence, the force F = 2Kq1q2cosθ /r²...............equation 1

but cosθ = y/r = 0.3/0.5

cosθ = 0.6

plugging back to equation 1;

F = 2 x 9 x 10^9 x 1.5 x 10^-6 x 5 x 10^-6 /0.5^2

F = 540 x 10^-3

Magnitude of Force = 0.54N

b) Direction is at angle 90