Electric Field

[xXmarkXx]

Take q1=25uC at (0,1), q2=20uC. at (2,0), and q3=? at (2,2). IF the force on q1 points in the -x direction, (a) what is q3 and (b) what is the magnitude of the force on q1?


F=k(q1,q2)/r^2 coulombs law


I know since q1 points in the -x direction that q3=q2. So (a)=20uC.
I'm not sure how to go about part b.

[mrlucky0]

Find the vector of the net Force acting on q1 (due to q2 and q3). Take the magnitude of that vector.

[xXmarkXx]

Find the vector of the net Force acting on q1 (due to q2 and q3). Take the magnitude of that vector.


I found the r (the distance between q2 and q1) to be root 5. Then i made the equation
((9*10^9)(2.0*10^-6)(2.5*10^-6))/5 which = .009

.009*2=.018N since q2=q3.

[mrlucky0]

You should decompose the forces into vectors.

I calculated the force between q1 and q2 to be .9 N

This is from:

kq1q2/r^2 ; where k = 9E9, q1= 25E-6, q2=20E-6, r=sqrt(5)

So F21 = .9*< -cos(a), sin(a) > ; where angle a = 26.5

The y component of F31 should cancel out F21 if the net force only acts in the -x direction.

[xXmarkXx]

You should decompose the forces into vectors.

I calculated the force between q1 and q2 to be .9 N

This is from:

kq1q2/r^2 ; where k = 9E9, q1= 25E-6, q2=20E-6, r=sqrt(5)

So F21 = .9*< -cos(a), sin(a) > ; where angle a = 26.5

The y component of F31 should cancel out F21 if the net force only acts in the -x direction.

If i am not mistaken, shouldn't q1=2.5E-6 and q2=2.0E-6??? That is how i got .009.
I'm still kind of confused. What is F31?? The force created from q3 right?

[mrlucky0]

q1 = 25E-6 = 2.5E-5
q2 = 20E-6 = 2.0E-5
k = 9E9
r = sqrt(5)

I get .9 N

F31 is the force acting on q1 by q3.

[mrlucky0]

I got that the net force, F31 + F21 = .9<-2cos(A), 0>. You know the angle A, so you can just take the magnitude of that.

[xXmarkXx]

q1 = 25E-6 = 2.5E-5
q2 = 20E-6 = 2.0E-5
k = 9E9
r = sqrt(5)

I get .9 N

F31 is the force acting on q1 by q3.

no...q1=25uC = 2.5*10^-6 right? same with q2.

[mrlucky0]

1 C = E6 uC
Or 1 uC = E-6 C ( a Micro-Coulomb is a millionth of a Coulomb)

25 uC * 1 C / E6 uC = 2.5E5 C

I think you're trying to move the decimal places the wrong direction.