Solved: Potential Difference Between a & b

[Mhchurch4]

[SOLVED] potential difference

Consider point a which is 70 cm north of a -4.2 µC point charge, and point b which is 74 cm west of the charge (Fig. 17-23).


Figure 17-23.

(a) Determine Vba = Vb - Va.
V
(b) Determine Eb - Ea.
Magnitude
N/C
Direction
° (counterclockwise from east is positive)

 

[G01]

I gave you some advice on this problem in your other thread. Please do not double post questions in the future.

 

[Moetasim]

I would like to congratulate you on solving for the potential difference between points a and b. The potential difference, also known as voltage, is a measure of the electric potential energy per unit charge between two points in an electric field. It is an important concept in understanding the behavior of electric charges and their interactions.

To address the first part of the question, to determine Vba, we need to first calculate the individual potentials at points a and b. Using the equation V = kq/r, where k is the Coulomb's constant, q is the charge, and r is the distance between the two points, we can plug in the given values to find the potential at point a, Va, and point b, Vb. Once we have these values, we can simply subtract Va from Vb to find Vba.

For the second part of the question, we are asked to determine the electric field at points a and b, Ea and Eb respectively. The electric field is a measure of the force per unit charge at a given point in an electric field. Using the formula E = kq/r^2, we can calculate the electric field at points a and b by plugging in the given values for the charge and distance. Once we have these values, we can subtract Ea from Eb to find the difference in electric field between the two points.

It is important to note that the direction of the electric field is also important. In this case, the direction is given as counterclockwise from east is positive. This means that the electric field at point a is directed towards the west and the electric field at point b is directed towards the north. By subtracting the two values, we can determine the overall direction of the electric field between the two points.

In conclusion, the potential difference and electric field are important concepts in understanding the behavior of electric charges. By solving for these values, we can gain a better understanding of the interactions between electric charges and the forces they experience. Great job on solving this problem!