Question

A small object A, electrically charged, creates an electric field. At a point P located 0.250 m directly north of A, the field has a value of 40.0 N/C directed to the south. If a second object B with the same charge as A is placed at 0.250m south of A (so that objects A and B and point P follow a straight line), what is the magnitude of the total electric field produced by the two objects at P?

Answer 1

Answer:

E_total = - 50 N / A

Explanation:

The electric field is a vector magnitude whereby

          E_total = Eₐ + E_b

where the bold letters indicate vectors, in this case the charges of the two objects A and B are the same and they are on the same line

         E_total = - E_a - E_b

         

the electric field for a point charge is

        E_a = $k \ \frac{q_a}{r_a^2 }$

        qₐ= Eₐ rₐ² / k

indicates that Eₐ = 40.0 N / C

        qₐ = 40.0 0.250²/9 10⁹

        qₐ = 2.777 10⁻¹⁰ C

indicates that the charge of the two points is the same

        qₐ = q_b

      E_total = - k qₐ / rₐ² - k qₐ / (2 rₐ)²

      E_total = $-k \ \frac{q_a}{r_a^2} \ ( 1 + \frac{1}{4} )$

       

we calculate

       E_total = - 40.0 (5/4)

       E_total = - 50 N / A