Electric field at origin, zero or nonzero?

In summary, the question discusses the placement of two point charges, +q and -q, at +50 cm and -50 cm on the x-axis and whether the electric field at the origin (located between the charges) is zero or nonzero. The conversation also considers the direction of the electric field and the potential movement of charges placed at the origin.
  • #1
rcmango
234
0

Homework Statement



Point charges +q and -q are placed at +50 cm and -50 cm on the x-axis, respectively. Is the electric field at the origin (halfway between the charges) zero or nonzero? If nonzero, which direction does it point?

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



If they were like charges, both positive, then I would say the electric field would be 0. I'm not sure because they are opposite polarities. Please help.
 
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  • #2
Try to think of the electric field lines; if you drew them what would they look like?
 
  • #3
What would happen if I were to place a charge of -q at the origin?
How about +q? Would you agree that they would move? What does
this say?
 

1. What is an electric field?

An electric field is a physical quantity that describes the force that a charged particle experiences in the presence of other charged particles. It is a vector field, meaning it has both magnitude and direction.

2. What does "zero electric field at the origin" mean?

A zero electric field at the origin means that at the point where the electric field is being measured, there is no force acting on a charged particle. This could be due to the absence of any charged particles or the cancellation of forces from multiple charged particles.

3. What does "nonzero electric field at the origin" mean?

A nonzero electric field at the origin means that at the point where the electric field is being measured, there is a force acting on a charged particle. This could be due to the presence of one or more charged particles, each exerting their own electric field.

4. How is the electric field at the origin calculated?

The electric field at the origin is calculated using Coulomb's Law, which states that the electric field at a point is directly proportional to the magnitude of the charge and inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the charge. This means that the electric field at the origin will be affected by the charges and their distances from the origin.

5. Can the electric field at the origin change?

Yes, the electric field at the origin can change based on the movement of charged particles or changes in the distribution of charges around the origin. It can also change based on the distance between the origin and the charged particles, as the strength of the electric field decreases with distance according to Coulomb's Law.

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