- #1
Shohel chowdhury
- 1
- 0
Electric field of opposite charges, cancel out each other, is it right?
Cancellation of the electric field from opposite charges
- Context: High School
- Thread starter Shohel chowdhury
- Start date
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Discussion Overview
The discussion revolves around the behavior of electric fields produced by opposite charges, specifically whether these fields cancel each other out under certain conditions. Participants explore various scenarios, including the effects at different distances from the charges and in the context of non-ionized atoms.
Discussion Character
- Exploratory, Technical explanation, Conceptual clarification, Debate/contested
Main Points Raised
- Some participants propose that the electric fields of opposite charges can cancel each other out if the charges are close enough together.
- Others argue that while the electric field outside a pair of opposite charges may approach zero at a large distance, the field between the charges is not zero and is complex.
- A participant mentions that in the case of a non-ionized atom, the external electric field is effectively zero due to the cancellation of the net charge of electrons and protons.
- It is noted that when charges are separated by a distance comparable to the measuring distance, the electric fields must be summed vectorially, taking into account both magnitude and direction.
- One participant highlights that the original question referred to opposite charges, correcting a previous comment that discussed like charges instead.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants express differing views on the conditions under which electric fields from opposite charges cancel out, indicating that the discussion remains unresolved with multiple competing perspectives.
Contextual Notes
The discussion includes assumptions about the distances involved and the nature of the charges (e.g., whether they are in a non-ionized state), which may affect the conclusions drawn by participants.
- #2
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Yes, if the charges are close enough together.
- #3
lightarrow
- 1,966
- 64
Don't know which level is really this question.Shohel chowdhury said:
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
- #4
berkeman
Admin
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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.Shohel chowdhury said:
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
Attachments
- #5
lightarrow
- 1,966
- 64
Very nice picture. But the OP referred to opposite charges.berkeman said:
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lightarrow
- #6
berkeman
Admin
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Oops, thanks!lightarrow said:
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