Electrostatic Field: Work Done by Electric Forces

[musabkheiry]

what is the work done by electric forces in moving a charge Q=1 nC from the origin to the point (1m, 1m, 1m) in the electrostatic field given by E=(x,y,z) = (x* (a sub x) + y^2*(a sub y) - (a sub z) V/m in the Cartesian coordinate system along the straight line joining two points?

 

[tiny-tim]

hi musabkheiry! welcome to pf!

show us what you've tried, and where you're stuck, and then we'll know how to help!

 

[musabkheiry]

Hi tiny-tim

In fact i have to submit my assignment after 6 hours from now ...
i tried to solve it .. and i don't know how to start to solve the question :( ... i don't want to get zero :( ... could you please help me

 

[tiny-tim]

you must know something

what is the definition of work done ?

how would you apply it in a simple case?

what is it about this case that stops you?​

(btw, do you mean E = (x, y², 1) V/m ?)

 

[musabkheiry]

i guess first i need to calculate the net force for the whole system and then i can find the work done ,,, what is confuse me is .. E=(x^x+y^2y+z)

 

[tiny-tim]

what is confuse me is .. E=(x^x+y^2y+z)

let's see, you wrote …

E=(x,y,z) = (x* (a sub x) + y^2*(a sub y) - (a sub z) V/m

i found that rather confusing, and i guessed that a_x a_y and a_z were meant to be the unit vectors in the x y and z directions

(and that "E=(x,y,z)" should have been "E(x,y,z)", ie the vector E as a function of x y and z: E = (E_x, E_y, E_z) = E_xa_x + E_ya_y + E_za_z )