# Calculate the voltage at a point

1. Feb 26, 2013

### Colts

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
Calculate the electric potential at (a) point P in the first figure, and (b) point M in the second.
http://www.usi.edu/science/physics/pickett/206/5p3f1.jpg [Broken]

2. Relevant equations

V=$\frac{q}{4\piεr}$
E=$\frac{q}{4\piεr^{2}}$

3. The attempt at a solution
I'm not sure if E is really necassaryt, but I wasn't sure how else to get the direction right. So I did the vector stuff with E and got
$\vec{E}$=<0,$\frac{-q}{2\pi\epsilon(.75)a^{2}}$>

Now I'm stuck and don't know how to get to voltage

Last edited by a moderator: May 6, 2017
2. Feb 26, 2013

### ap123

You don't need the electric field - just use the definition of V.

3. Feb 26, 2013

### Colts

Is it as easy as adding the two V's up?
Like
$V_{1}$+$V_{2}$=V
V=$\frac{q}{2\pi\epsilon a}$

Does direction not matter?

4. Feb 26, 2013

### ap123

Yes, you just add them up.
The potential is a scalar, not a vector, so it doesn't have a direction.