Electric Potential of charges on a rectangle

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the electric potential at point P, located at the upper left corner of a rectangle with specified charges at each corner. The charges are 7.0 µC at the upper right, -14 µC at the bottom right, and -8.0 µC at the bottom left. The correct approach involves using the formula for electric potential energy, PE = kq/r, where k is the Coulomb's constant, q is the charge, and r is the distance from the charge to point P. The potential energy is a scalar quantity, and thus the contributions from each charge should be summed directly without vector addition.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of electric potential and potential energy concepts
  • Familiarity with Coulomb's law and the constant k (Coulomb's constant)
  • Knowledge of scalar versus vector quantities in physics
  • Basic geometry for calculating distances in a rectangle
NEXT STEPS
  • Review the principles of electric potential and potential energy in electrostatics
  • Study the application of Coulomb's law in calculating electric fields and potentials
  • Learn about scalar quantities and their properties in physics
  • Practice problems involving multiple point charges and their contributions to electric potential
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Students studying electrostatics, physics educators, and anyone seeking to understand electric potential calculations involving multiple charges.

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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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