Electric fields and electrostatic forces

[InfinitiMike069]

I was wondering if someone can show me how to answer this problem. Thank you.


1)Two charges are placed on the x-axis, an unknown positive charge at x=0 cm and a negative 8.642e-6 C charge at 2.993 cm from the origin. Calculate the magnitude of the charge at x=0 cm which causes the total electric field at 11.917 cm to be zero.

[Tide]

Show us what you did then I'm sure you'll get plenty of help!

[ArmoSkater87]

Electric field, E = \frac{kq}{r^2}
Since you have two particles with charges, lets call the unknown charge q1, and the known charge q2, where

Since E = 0, \frac{kq_1}{r^2} + \frac{kq_2}{r^2} = 0, where r is the distance from the charge to the point of zero electric field. Therefore...
For the first charge its .11917m away, and for the second charge its .11917m - .02993m = .08924m.

\frac{kq_1}{.11917^2} + \frac{k*-8.642e-6}{.08924^2} = 0

The k's cancel, and therefore q1 = 1.54e-5 C.

I'm not 100% sure if I did this right, so wait for more responses before taking my word for it. :smile:

[e(ho0n3]

Conceptually it is correct although I haven't done the calculation so...