How Do You Calculate the Electric Force Between Charges in Physics?

[GreyGus]

Homework Statement

Three positive charges are located in the x-y plane (see plot below), with Q1=3.10 μC, Q2=5.20 μC and Q3=6.30 μC. Note that the charges are located at grid intersections, and that the x and y coordinates are in cm.
dynamically generated plot
A. Calculate the magnitude of the electric force on Q1 due to Q2.

Homework Equations

F=kq1q2/r^2

The Attempt at a Solution

Fx=k(3.1*10^-6)(5.2*10^-6)/((4/100)^2)
Fy=k(3.1*10^-6)(5.2*10^-6)/((3/100)^2)
Then for the magnitude: sqrt((160.977)^2+(90.54)^2))
Thank you in advance because I really cannot figure out what I'm doing wrong.

 

[Fadi A.Saif]

Dear GreyGus;
The solution is just as simple as two steps:
1- Calculate the distance between the two charges using Pythagoras theory (i.e. r = sqrt((the x component of distance)^2 + (the y component of distance)^2)).
2- Calculate the electeric force exerted on Q1 by Q2 using coloumb's law
(F= kQ1Q2/r^2). and hen proceed.

I hope this answers your question.

 

[GreyGus]

Thank you very much. I appreciate it.

 

[GreyGus]

ok so I did
x=.04 m
y=.03m
3.10 uC=.000003 C
5.20 uC=.0000052 C
r=sqrt((.04^2)+(.03^2))=.05
F=(9*10^29)(.000003)(.000005)/(.05^2)=5.803e21 N but that's wrong. What am I doing wrong now?

 

[Fadi A.Saif]

The error would be with the proportionality constant k, it's (8.9*10^9) not (8.9*10^29).
I hope this makes sense

 

[GreyGus]

Oh I see, Thank you very much for your help.

 

[GreyGus]

Could you also help me with another problem? I'm having some difficulties in that one as well.

https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?p=2326272#post2326272

 

[GreyGus]

How would you find the x-component of force q1 to q3? I have tried:
r=.1
f=k(3.1*10^-6)(5.2*10^-6)/(.1^2)
tantheta=(.06/.08)=36.9
x-component=11.61 N. But that's not right. What did I do wrong on this one?

 

[Doc Al]

How would you find the x-component of force q1 to q3? I have tried:
r=.1
f=k(3.1*10^-6)(5.2*10^-6)/(.1^2)
tantheta=(.06/.08)=36.9
x-component=11.61 N. But that's not right. What did I do wrong on this one?

Make sure you're using the right charge.

 

[GreyGus]

Oh my bad. Ok so I got the answer, but I want to know why is the answer negative?

 

[Doc Al]

Oh my bad. Ok so I got the answer, but I want to know why is the answer negative?

The x-component of the force on q3 should not be negative.

 

[GreyGus]

Dear Doc. Al Could you please help me with this homework? It's due in a couple of hours.
https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=334084