Net Electrostatic Force on Electron in Charged Insulator

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the net electrostatic force acting on an electron positioned at the center of a circular ring, which is divided into two halves with opposite charges: -q on the top half and +q on the bottom half. The consensus is that the electron experiences a downward net force due to the attraction towards the positively charged bottom half and repulsion from the negatively charged top half. The electric field generated by the charged ring points upwards, while the resultant force on the electron, being negatively charged, is directed downwards.

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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?
 

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

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