Electric Forces and Fields questions,

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around electric forces and fields, specifically involving multiple charges and their interactions. The original poster presents two problems: one concerning the position of a charge in electrostatic equilibrium and another regarding the calculation of electric force on a charge due to two other charges arranged in a specific geometric configuration.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to set up equations based on the forces acting on Charge C and is seeking guidance on rearranging these equations to solve for an unknown distance. They also discuss breaking down the second problem into components using trigonometric functions to find the electric force.

Discussion Status

Participants are engaging with the original poster's attempts, offering suggestions for visual aids and clarifying the setup of equations. There is an ongoing exploration of how to manipulate the equations to isolate variables, and some guidance has been provided regarding the approach to the second problem.

Contextual Notes

The original poster expresses feeling lost and has not made significant progress beyond creating a diagram. There is an emphasis on the need for visual representation to facilitate understanding.

WGman
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Electric Forces and Fields questions, please help!

1. Charge A and Charge B are 2.2 m apart. Charge A is 1.0 Coulomb, Charge B is 2.0 Coulombs, and Charge C is 2.0 Coulombs and is located between Charges A and B and is in electrostatic equilibrium. How far from Charge A is Charge C?

2. Two equal positive charges, both q= 2.0 x 10^ -6 Coulombs, interact with a third charge, Q= 4.0 x 10^ -6 Coulombs. What is the magnitude of the electric force on Q? (In a coordinate plane, the two "q"s are on the y axis: the first one is .3 meters above the origin and the second one is .3 meters below the origin. Q is located .4 meters right of the origin (on the +x axis). this all makes one triangle, or two right triangles side by side.)




2. E= Electric Force/q Electric Force= Kc x q1xq2/(r^2) E= Kc x q/(r^2) Kc= 8.99 x 10^9



3. I haven't gotten much accomplished besides a picture, I'm completely lost! D:
 
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Welcome to PF, WGman. It would be nice to see your diagram and work. You could scan it, photograph it or sketch it in a paint program. Upload the jpg file to a service such as photobucket and paste a link in your post here.

Charge C will have two forces on it, one to the left and one to the right so your beginning equation will be
F1 + F2 = 0
Fill in the detailed formula for the electric force in each case. One of the distances will be unknown, say x. The other will be (2.2 - x).

Post your work if you need more help!
 


thanks for your help so far!
so now i have set that up, but how can i rearrange the equation to get x once i plug in the variables? thanks!

and for the second one so far i am splitting the triangle formed into two right triangles, with the legs on the x and y axis. once i find the magnitude of the force not on the axis (using r as the hypotenuse, the distance between q and Q) and using sin and cos to find the components before adding them!
 


Your equation will have only the one unknown, x. Solve it as you would any simple equation!

Your plan for the second one sounds good.

It is hard to help when I can't see your work.
 

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