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FlipStyle1308
Sep10-06, 08:01 PM
The three charges are held in place below. L = 1.40 m.
http://www.webassign.net/walker/20-24alt.gif
(a) Find the electric potential at point P.
(b) Suppose that a fourth charge, with a charge of 6.73 μC and a mass of 4.71 g, is released from rest at point P. What is the speed of the fourth charge when it has moved infinitely far away from the other three charges?

For part (a), I am pretty sure that I use the equation U = kqoq/r, but don't know what to do next.

Dr Transport
Sep10-06, 08:35 PM
I would start by calculating the electric field at P (remember that the electric field is a vector so you need the vector form) from there you should be able to do the problem.

FlipStyle1308
Sep10-06, 08:40 PM
So I use E = - V/r, right? How do I calculate this? I have to add values based on each charge, right? I don't know how to do this.

Chronos
Sep10-06, 11:53 PM
The geometry is deafening. Think 1/r^2.

FlipStyle1308
Sep10-06, 11:57 PM
Does this mean E = -V/r^2?

FlipStyle1308
Sep11-06, 07:03 PM
Bump! I just correctly calculated the electric potential at point P to be 68.482 kV. How do I solve part (b)?

FlipStyle1308
Sep12-06, 09:52 AM
I'm still stuck, is anyone able to help me figure out this last part of the question? Thanks.

Tomsk
Sep12-06, 09:59 AM
If you know the potential at P, then you know the fourth charge's PE at P. You also know V at infinity, then use conservation of energy.

FlipStyle1308
Sep12-06, 05:32 PM
So the electric potential at point P = (1/2)mv^2, v = 5392.538 m/s? Do I need to incorporate the 6.73 x 10^-6 C at all?

Tomsk
Sep13-06, 01:03 PM
Yes, the potential energy is given by PE=qV.Then set that equal to 1/2 mv^2. Sorry if I wasn't clear on that.

FlipStyle1308
Sep13-06, 05:46 PM
Okay, thanks!

Chronos
Sep16-06, 01:23 AM
As Tomsk pointed out, establishing the global energy potential is the right place to start. It's all about entropy. Good explanation Tomsk. This is the guiding principle in almost all physics problems - define the boundary conditions.