Find the vector of the net Force

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on calculating the net force acting on charge q1 due to charges q2 and q3. It is established that q3 must equal q2, resulting in q3 being 20 µC. The force between q1 and q2 is calculated to be 0.9 N, using Coulomb's law with the appropriate values for charge and distance. The participants emphasize the need to decompose the forces into vectors to analyze the net force direction, confirming that the y-component from q3 should cancel out the y-component from q2, ensuring the net force acts solely in the -x direction. The calculations and concepts discussed clarify the relationships between the charges and the forces they exert on each other.
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Take q1=25uC at (0,1), q2=20uC. at (2,0), and q3=? at (2,2). IF the force on q1 points in the -x direction, (a) what is q3 and (b) what is the magnitude of the force on q1?


F=k(q1,q2)/r^2 coulombs law


I know since q1 points in the -x direction that q3=q2. So (a)=20uC.
I'm not sure how to go about part b.
 
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Find the vector of the net Force acting on q1 (due to q2 and q3). Take the magnitude of that vector.
 
mrlucky0 said:
Find the vector of the net Force acting on q1 (due to q2 and q3). Take the magnitude of that vector.


I found the r (the distance between q2 and q1) to be root 5. Then i made the equation
((9*10^9)(2.0*10^-6)(2.5*10^-6))/5 which = .009

.009*2=.018N since q2=q3.
 
You should decompose the forces into vectors.

I calculated the force between q1 and q2 to be .9 N

This is from:

kq1q2/r^2 ; where k = 9E9, q1= 25E-6, q2=20E-6, r=sqrt(5)

So F21 = .9*< -cos(a), sin(a) > ; where angle a = 26.5

The y component of F31 should cancel out F21 if the net force only acts in the -x direction.
 
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mrlucky0 said:
You should decompose the forces into vectors.

I calculated the force between q1 and q2 to be .9 N

This is from:

kq1q2/r^2 ; where k = 9E9, q1= 25E-6, q2=20E-6, r=sqrt(5)

So F21 = .9*< -cos(a), sin(a) > ; where angle a = 26.5

The y component of F31 should cancel out F21 if the net force only acts in the -x direction.

If i am not mistaken, shouldn't q1=2.5E-6 and q2=2.0E-6? That is how i got .009.
I'm still kind of confused. What is F31?? The force created from q3 right?
 
q1 = 25E-6 = 2.5E-5
q2 = 20E-6 = 2.0E-5
k = 9E9
r = sqrt(5)

I get .9 N

F31 is the force acting on q1 by q3.
 
I got that the net force, F31 + F21 = .9<-2cos(A), 0>. You know the angle A, so you can just take the magnitude of that.
 
mrlucky0 said:
q1 = 25E-6 = 2.5E-5
q2 = 20E-6 = 2.0E-5
k = 9E9
r = sqrt(5)

I get .9 N

F31 is the force acting on q1 by q3.

no...q1=25uC = 2.5*10^-6 right? same with q2.
 
1 C = E6 uC
Or 1 uC = E-6 C ( a Micro-Coulomb is a millionth of a Coulomb)

25 uC * 1 C / E6 uC = 2.5E5 C

I think you're trying to move the decimal places the wrong direction.
 
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