Electric Field between 2 Point Charges

AI Thread Summary
To find the electric field at the origin due to two point charges, q1 (8.00 nC) and q2 (6.00 nC), positioned along the x-axis, the y-component of the electric field is zero. The x-component can be calculated by determining the individual electric fields produced by each charge at the origin and then summing them. The calculations involve using the formula E = kq/r^2 for each charge, where k is Coulomb's constant. The total electric field at the origin is the vector sum of the contributions from both charges. The solution emphasizes the importance of correctly identifying the distances involved in the calculations.
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[SOLVED] Electric Field between 2 Point Charges

Homework Statement


http://session.masteringphysics.com/problemAsset/1011305/15/1011305A.jpg

Two point charges are placed on the x axis. The first charge, q1 = 8.00 nC, is placed a distance 16.0 m from the origin along the positive x axis; the second charge, q2 = 6.00 nC, is placed a distance 9.00 m from the origin along the negative x axis.

Find the electric field at the origin, point O.

Give the x and y components of the electric field as an ordered pair. Express your answer in Newtons per coulomb to three significant figures. Keep in mind that an x component that points to the right is positive and a y component that points upward is positive.

Homework Equations


E = F/q
F = kq1q2/r^2
E = p / (2pi * e0 * x^3)
p = qr

q1 = 8*10^-9
q2 = 6*10^-9
r = 9+16 = 25 (The distance between the two point charges)
e0 = 8.85*10^-12
x = r (Assumably, not for certain)


The Attempt at a Solution


Since both charges are along the x axis, I conclude that they do not pose any influence on the y coordinate of the field, therefore the y coordinate is 0.

The x coordinate can be computed via E = F/q.
We are trying to calculate E.
F can be calculated via F = kq1q2/r^2
Issue is, what do we use for q?

Alternatively, we could use p = qr to find p (But again, which q to use?)
Then we can use E = p / (2pi * e0 * x^3)
(But then which x do we use? 9, 16, or 25? Distance between a point and (0,0), or distance between both points?)
 
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I think you're making this too hard. All you need to do is find the electric field at the origin due to q_1 and add it to the electric field at the origin due to q_2. In other words,

\vec{E} = \vec{E}_1 + \vec{E}_2
 
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