Direction of Net Electric Field

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SUMMARY

The net electric field at the location of sphere A, caused by two negatively charged spheres (each with a charge of -5.66 x 10^-6 coulombs), has a magnitude of 7.71 x 10^5 N/C and an angle of 60.1 degrees relative to the east (0°). The resultant electric field direction is confirmed to be in the second quadrant. To calculate the angle, the formula tanθ = -Fy/Fx is used, leading to the adjustment of the angle by adding 180 degrees to the calculated θ.

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Homework Statement



A charge of -5.66 x 10-6 coulombs exists on each of the three spheres in the figure below. Sphere B is 0.364 meters from sphere A, and sphere C is 0.276 meters from sphere A.

b. Find the magnitude and direction of the net electric field at the location of sphere A (referenced to east being 0°, all angles between 0° and 360°).

CoulombNet.jpg


The Attempt at a Solution



I got the magnitude to be 7.71 x 10 ^5 and it was correct...

so i solved for the angle and got 60.1 degrees...

but I am unsure of how this will correlate to the angle... i tried adding 270 and then 360-60.1 and neither worked
 
Last edited:
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this is semi-urgent... help is appreciated... thanks everyone
 
The resultant force is in the second quadrant.
If you find the angle by using
tanθ = - Fy/Fx , the the required angle is (180 - θ).
 

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