Electric Potential of charges on a rectangle

AI Thread Summary
To find the electric potential at point P due to charges at the corners of a rectangle, the relevant approach involves calculating the potential energy using the formula PE = kq/r for each charge. The potential energy is a scalar quantity, meaning it should be summed directly without considering vector directions. The user attempted to vectorially add the results, which is incorrect for potential energy calculations. The correct method involves simply adding the contributions from each charge based on their distances to point P. Understanding that potential energy is scalar is crucial for solving the problem correctly.
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Homework Statement



Consider charges placed at the corners of a rectangle. This rectangle is a horizontal rectangle and is .43 m long and .25 m wide. At the upper right corner there is a charge of 7.0 µC. At the bottom right there is a charge of -14 µC. At the bottom left there is a charge of -8.0 µC. At the upper left there is Point P.
Find the electric potential at point P due to the grouping of charges at the other corners of the rectangle.
Answer in units of V.

Homework Equations


These may help:
EP = -qE(omega)d
PE=kq/r

The Attempt at a Solution



I worked the Potential Energy (so I thought) for point P and drew it out. Then I added the results vectorily, yet, I still got it wrong 5 times. If you could help that'd be awesome.
 
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Extra said:
I worked the Potential Energy (so I thought) for point P and drew it out. Then I added the results vectorily, yet, I still got it wrong 5 times. If you could help that'd be awesome.

Potential energy is a scalar, not a vector. There is nothing to "draw out". You should just add the kq/r terms for each charge because all that matters is the distance to point P not the direction.
 
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