Net Electrostatic Force on Electron in Charged Insulator

[kiwikahuna]

Homework Statement

a circular ring made of an insulating material is cut in half. one half is given a charge -q uniformly distributed along its arc. The other half is given a charge +q also uniformly distributed along its arc. The two halves are then rejoined with insulation at the junctions J as shown. If there is no change in the charge distributions, what is the direction of the net electrostatic force on an electron located at the center of the circle?

[i've attached the picture of the circle for a better visual. ]

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

I think the direction would be downwards but I'm not entirely sure. My reasoning is that because the top half of the circle is negatively charged while the bottom half is positively charged, the electron (negatively charged) would be attracted to the positive charges while repelled by the negative charges thus the force would put down. Is this correct?

 

[Doc Al]

Yes, that's correct. The field points upwards; the force points downwards.