Question

A particle with charge 3.01 µC on the negative x axis and a second particle with charge 6.02 µC on the positive x axis are each a distance 0.0429 m from the origin. Where should a third particle with charge 9.03 µC be placed so that the magnitude of the electric field at the origin is zero?

Answer 1

Answer:

The third particle should be at 0.0743 m from the origin on the negative x-axis.

Explanation:

Let's assume that the third charge is on the negative x-axis. So we have:

$E_{1}+E_{3}-E_{2}=0$

We know that the electric field is:

$E=k\frac{q}{r^{2}}$

Where:

• k is the Coulomb constant
• q is the charge
• r is the distance from the charge to the point

So, we have:

$k\frac{q_{1}}{r_{1}^{2}}+k\frac{q_{3}}{r_{3}^{2}}-k\frac{q_{2}}{r_{2}^{2}}=0$

Let's solve it for r(3).

$\frac{3.01}{0.0429^{2}}+\frac{9.03}{r_{3}^{2}}-\frac{6.02}{0.0429^{2}}=0$

$r_{3}=0.0743\:$  

Therefore, the third particle should be at 0.0743 m from the origin on the negative x-axis.

I hope it helps you!