Cancellation of the electric field from opposite charges

AI Thread Summary
The electric field of opposite charges can cancel each other out, but this only occurs when the charges are close together. At a significant distance from the charges, the external electric field approaches zero due to the cancellation of the net charge. However, the electric field between the charges is not zero and is influenced by their vectorial summation. The complexity of the electric field distribution around charged particles must be considered, especially when they are separated by a distance comparable to the measuring distance. Understanding these principles is crucial for accurately analyzing electric fields in various contexts.
Shohel chowdhury
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Electric field of opposite charges, cancel out each other, is it right?
 
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Yes, if the charges are close enough together.
 
Shohel chowdhury said:
Electric field of opposite charges, cancel out each other, is it right?
Don't know which level is really this question.
If you mean the electric field outside(*) the charges is approximately zero at large enough distance from them, it's ok.
(*) The electric field between the charges is not zero, not even approximately.

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lightarrow
 
Shohel chowdhury said:
Electric field of opposite charges, cancel out each other, is it right?
If you mean like with a non-ionized atom, then yes, the external E-field a ways away from the atom is zero, since the net charge of the electrons and protons cancels out.

But if you mean when the two charges are separated by some distance on the order of your measuring distance, then the E-fields are summed vectorially (magnitude and direction). The E-field exactly in the middle between two like charges is zero, but you can see that the E-field in general from two charged particles is pretty complicated around them...

https://i.stack.imgur.com/pNHut.jpg

pNHut.jpg
 

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berkeman said:
If you mean like with a non-ionized atom, then yes, the external E-field a ways away from the atom is zero, since the net charge of the electrons and protons cancels out.

But if you mean when the two charges are separated by some distance on the order of your measuring distance, then the E-fields are summed vectorially (magnitude and direction). The E-field exactly in the middle between two like charges is zero, but you can see that the E-field in general from two charged particles is pretty complicated around them...

https://i.stack.imgur.com/pNHut.jpg

View attachment 240659
Very nice picture. But the OP referred to opposite charges.

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lightarrow
 
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lightarrow said:
Very nice picture. But the OP referred to opposite charges.

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lightarrow
Oops, thanks! :smile:
 
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