Finding the Zero Point of Electric Field from a Dipole Configuration

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To find the zero point of the electric field from two fixed charges on the x-axis, the user is working with charge q1 at 26.3 cm and charge q2 at 46.6 cm, where q2 is -5.82 times q1. The user initially calculated the net electric field using Coulomb's law but realized that the net electric field should vary with position, not be a constant. To determine where the electric field equals zero, the user needs to sum the electric fields from both charges and set the equation equal to zero. This approach clarifies the method needed to solve for the coordinate on the x-axis where the electric field cancels out. Understanding that the electric field is a function of position is key to resolving the problem.
czaitz
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I'd like to check my thinking which is getting fuzzy:

Question: Two particles are fixed to an x axis: particle 1 of charge q1 = 2.91 x 10-8 C at x = 26.3 cm and particle 2 of charge q2 = -5.82q1 at x = 46.6 cm. At what coordinate on the x-axis is the electric field produced by the particles equal to zero?

I am thinking: q1=2.91E-8C and q2=-1.694E-7C . I found the net electric field by using Coulomb's law, which is .0013 N/C. Now I need to find where the net E field is zero, and I thought that if I set E=0 I could find the r where E=0 but I can't seem to figure out how to do that. I can't just substitute E to find r ...I know it's not that hard but I'm experiencing a block...
 
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Your net electric field shouldn't be a constant, it should be a function of x (or r, but you're only considering the one direction). It should be the sum of two electric fields, one from q1, one from q2. Then set it equal to zero and solve for x.
 
Well, gosh, that makes sense! thanks!
 
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