Electric Field with three negative point charges in a line

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the electric field produced by three negative point charges, specifically -5μC and -2μC, at a point P located 6.00 cm from the -2.00μC charge. The user correctly applied the formula E=kQ/r², resulting in electric field values of E_{-5μC}=-4,500,000 N/C for each -5μC charge and E_{-2.00μC}=-5,000,000 N/C for the -2μC charge. The total electric field magnitude at point P was calculated as -1.40*10^7 N/C, but the user was reminded to consider the vector nature of electric fields for accurate summation.

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kddc
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Homework Statement


Find the magnitude of the electric field this comination of charges produces at point P, which lies 6.00cm from the -2.00μC charge measured perpendicular to the line connecting the three charges.


Homework Equations


E=k\frac{Q}{r^{2}}
F=k\frac{q_{1}q_{2}}{r^{2}}
F=\frac{E}{q}
k\approx9*10^{9}

The Attempt at a Solution


Conversions to the correct units were done prior to plugging values into eqn.

To my understanding the net electric field is the sum of all electric fields from each point charge.
So I found E_{-5μC}=-4,500,000 and the same goes for the other -5μC point charge; E_{-5μC}=-4,500,000 , and for the -2μC point charge I got E_{-2.00μC}= -5,000,000

For E_{-5μC} I calculated and then plugged in \sqrt{(8cm^{2}+6cm^{2}}≈0.1m


Results summed up to E_{-5μC}+E_{-5μC}+E_{-2.00μC}=(-4.5*10^{6})+(-4.5*10^{6})+(-5.0*10^{6})= -1.40*10^{7}

The question only asked for magnitude so I'm assuming direction doesn't really matter at this point. What am I doing wrong? Please help.
 
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kddc said:

Homework Statement


Find the magnitude of the electric field this comination of charges produces at point P, which lies 6.00cm from the -2.00μC charge measured perpendicular to the line connecting the three charges.


Homework Equations


E=k\frac{Q}{r^{2}}
F=k\frac{q_{1}q_{2}}{r^{2}}
F=\frac{E}{q}
k\approx9*10^{9}

The Attempt at a Solution


Conversions to the correct units were done prior to plugging values into eqn.

To my understanding the net electric field is the sum of all electric fields from each point charge.
So far so good.

So I found E_{-5μC}=-4,500,000 and the same goes for the other -5μC point charge; E_{-5μC}=-4,500,000 , and for the -2μC point charge I got E_{-2.00μC}= -5,000,000
The electric field is a vector, and you must take the vector sum of the fields of the three charges.
 
Thank you!


Forgot to log in after having solved it.
 

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