- #1
Dexter09
- 13
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θ
What would be the electric field on the midpoint of each side of a square with point charges of +Q on diagonal corners and -Q on diagonal corners?
E=kQ/r^2 Ex=Ecosθ Ey=Esinθ
Considering the midpoint of the side at the bottom of the square, I found the x components of each of the four electric fields it would have (with each of the four corners of the square).
E1x = E1 = -4kQ/L^2
E2x= E2 = 4kQ/L^2
E3x=E3cosθ= -4kQ/5L^2(cosθ)
E4x=E4cosθ=4kQ/5L^2(cosθ)
When I find the sum of the x components, it is zero. I found the y-components in a similar way, and believe they will cancel out, too. So, I think the electric field on the midpoint should be zero, but the solution in the back of the book indicates that it is 1.15x10^10 Nm^2/C^2 (Q/L^2) in the x-direction.
I haven't done the calculation for each midpoint, but I feel like each one would cancel out in the same way, but the solution says that each one is the answer listed above in either the x or y direction.
Homework Statement
What would be the electric field on the midpoint of each side of a square with point charges of +Q on diagonal corners and -Q on diagonal corners?
Homework Equations
E=kQ/r^2 Ex=Ecosθ Ey=Esinθ
The Attempt at a Solution
Considering the midpoint of the side at the bottom of the square, I found the x components of each of the four electric fields it would have (with each of the four corners of the square).
E1x = E1 = -4kQ/L^2
E2x= E2 = 4kQ/L^2
E3x=E3cosθ= -4kQ/5L^2(cosθ)
E4x=E4cosθ=4kQ/5L^2(cosθ)
When I find the sum of the x components, it is zero. I found the y-components in a similar way, and believe they will cancel out, too. So, I think the electric field on the midpoint should be zero, but the solution in the back of the book indicates that it is 1.15x10^10 Nm^2/C^2 (Q/L^2) in the x-direction.
I haven't done the calculation for each midpoint, but I feel like each one would cancel out in the same way, but the solution says that each one is the answer listed above in either the x or y direction.