Net electric field by two curved rods

[celee2]

Homework Statement

http://online.physics.uiuc.edu/cgi/courses/shell/common/showme.pl?courses/phys212/oldexams/exam1/sp08/fig4.gif

Two curved rods each have charge +Q uniformly distributed over their length. Which statement best describes the electric field due to these two rods at the midpoint between the two rods marked by an X ?

(a) E points up.
(b) E points down.
(c) E = 0.

Homework Equations

It's more like geometry I think.

The Attempt at a Solution

I definitely thought E would point up since the rod at the bottom has extra length that has positive charge, which would affect electric field to the radially outward direction. But the answer is b, E points down. Could anyone explain the reason? Thanks in advance.

 

[buffordboy23]

E should point up. If your problem statement and diagram are accurate, then the answer is wrong. The top section should cancel out exactly with the segment of the bottom rod that is directly opposite. This leaves two portions of the bottom rod to contribute to the direction of the field.