How Do You Calculate Electrostatic Force Between Charges?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the electrostatic force between two positive point charges and a third charge located at a different position. The problem involves applying Coulomb's law and vector addition to determine the resultant force.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the application of Coulomb's law and the importance of treating forces as vectors, questioning the direction and components of the forces involved. There is also a separate inquiry into the nature of electrostatic interactions and their relation to Maxwell's equations.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided guidance on the vector nature of forces and the need to consider direction, while others have raised questions about the theoretical aspects of electrostatic interactions. The discussion is ongoing with multiple lines of inquiry being explored.

Contextual Notes

There is a mention of a potential misunderstanding regarding the positioning of charges and the distances involved, which may affect the calculations. Additionally, one participant raises a theoretical question about the speed of electrostatic interaction and its implications in physics.

BoldKnight399
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Two positive point charges, each of which
has a charge of 1.5 × 10−9 C, are located at
y = +0.50 m and y = −0.50 m.
The Coulomb constant is 8.98755 ×
10^9 N · m2/C2.
a) Find the magnitude of the resultant elec-
trical force on a charge of 1.0×10−9 C located
at x = 0.55 m.
Answer in units of N.

So I drew out a force diagram and thought that the equation would be:
Fel=kc(Q1*q/d1^2)+kc(Q2*q/d2^2) where the q is the 1.0e-9C charge.
Fel=(8.98755e9)(1.5e-9*1.0e-9/.0025)+(8.98755e9)(1.5e-9*1.0e-9/1.1025)
so Fel=5.404757e-6

Apparently that was the wrong answer. Does anybody know or want to explain how I should now re-examine the problem?
 
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The force from each charge is a vector. You have to add them like vectors, not numbers--the direction matters. Hint: What happens to the y-components?

Also: What's the distance between the charges?
 
yeah...I missed the fact that q was on the x axis. makes sense now. Thank you for your help!
 
I have a question about the operation of the electrostatic force. I solved the Maxwell's equations in a pure static electric conditions and the result I got does not look like a wave equation. If that is the case, then what is the speed of electrostatic interaction in free space? And what is the messenger particle?
 

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