Electric Potential at Origin of Point Charges?

[freeofwork]

Homework Statement

Two equal point charges of magnitude 4.0 μC are situated along the x-axis at x₁=-2.0m and x₂= 2.0m. What is the electric potential at the origin of the xy coordinate system?

Homework Equations

ΔV= K_c (q/r)

The Attempt at a Solution

Do voltages cancel each other out at the mid point or do they add up?

 

[tiny-tim]

hi freeofwork!

Do voltages cancel each other out at the mid point or do they add up?

(can't they do both? )

voltage is (electric) potential energy per charge, and so can be positive or negative

energies add (as scalars), so voltages do also

 

[freeofwork]

so its not zero right?