Electric field strength at a point between charges

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radiant_june
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Find the electric field strength at point B between two charges shown below:
ATTACH]
219yzj4.jpg


Given/Known Values
q1 = 4.0×10-6 C
r1 = 40 cm = 0.4 m (Distance from q1 to point B)
q2 = -1.0×10-6 C
r2 = 30 cm = 0.3 m (Distance from q2 to point B)
k = 9.0×109 Nm2/C2

Equations
Electric Force:
FE = (k⋅q1⋅q2)/r2
FE = q⋅E​

Electric Field:
E = (k⋅q)/r2​
My thought process was that I could find the electric field strengths of both charges, and then find the difference between them, since point B is between the two charges.

E1 = (k⋅q1)/r12
= (9.0×109⋅4.0×10-6)/0.42
= 225000 N/C

E2 = (k⋅q2)/r22
= (9.0×109⋅-1.0×10-6)/0.32
= -100000 N/C

ΔE = EB = E1 - E2
= 225000 - (-100000)
= 325000 N/C

I'm not really sure if this is the correct way of finding the electric field strength of point B. Any help would be appreciated! :biggrin:
 
Attachments
  • Diagram of two charges on a horizontal line: circle 1 labeled q1 = 4.0x10^-6 C on the left, circle 2 labeled q2 = -1.0x10^-6 C on the right, with point B between them, 40 cm from 1 and 30 cm from 2.
    219yzj4.jpg
    16.4 KB · Views: 382
radiant_june said:
Find the electric field strength at point B between two charges shown below:
ATTACH]
Diagram of two point charges on a horizontal line: charge 1 with q1 = 4.0x10^-6 C on the left, charge 2 with q2 = -1.0x10^-6 C on the right; point B lies between them, 40 cm from charge 1 and 30 cm from charge 2.


Given/Known Values
q1 = 4.0×10-6 C
r1 = 40 cm = 0.4 m (Distance from q1 to point B)
q2 = -1.0×10-6 C
r2 = 30 cm = 0.3 m (Distance from q2 to point B)
k = 9.0×109 Nm2/C2

Equations
Electric Force:
FE = (k⋅q1⋅q2)/r2
FE = q⋅E​
Electric Field:
E = (k⋅q)/r2​
My thought process was that I could find the electric field strengths of both charges, and then find the difference between them, since point B is between the two charges.

E1 = (k⋅q1)/r12
= (9.0×109⋅4.0×10-6)/0.42
= 225000 N/C

E2 = (k⋅q2)/r22
= (9.0×109⋅-1.0×10-6)/0.32
= -100000 N/C

ΔE = EB = E1 - E2
= 225000 - (-100000)
= 325000 N/C

I'm not really sure if this is the correct way of finding the electric field strength of point B. Any help would be appreciated! :biggrin:
I get the same numerical answer. To complete the problem, you need to specify the direction of the ##\vec E## vector.
 
Attachments
  • Diagram of two point charges on a horizontal line: charge 1 with q1 = 4.0x10^-6 C on the left, charge 2 with q2 = -1.0x10^-6 C on the right; point B lies between them, 40 cm from charge 1 and 30 cm from charge 2.
    219yzj4.jpg
    16.4 KB · Views: 817
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