Point Charge Electric Fields

In summary, a point charge electric field is created by a single point charge and its strength and direction are determined by the magnitude and sign of the point charge. Coulomb's Law is used to calculate the strength of a point charge electric field, and the direction is always away from positive charges and towards negative charges. A point charge electric field can be shielded by placing a conductive material between the point charge and the area being measured. Distance also affects the strength of the electric field, with the strength decreasing as the distance increases.
  • #1
thst1003
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Homework Statement


Three charges, q1 = +2.10 10-9 C, q2 = -3.09 10-9 C, and q3 = +1.08 10-9 C, are located on the x-axis at x1 = 0, x2 = 10.0 cm and x3 = 20.0 cm. Find the resultant force on q3.


I am unsure of how to even attempt this problem...
 
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  • #2
What is the formula for the force between 2 charged particles? Once you know the force 1 exerts on 3 and the force 2 exerts on 3, it is a simple matter of adding them up -- but remember that force is a vector, so you must use vector addition.
 

1. What is a point charge electric field?

A point charge electric field is a type of electric field that is created by a single point charge, which is an object with a positive or negative electric charge located at a single point in space. The strength and direction of the electric field at any given point is determined by the magnitude and sign of the point charge.

2. How is the strength of a point charge electric field calculated?

The strength of a point charge electric field is calculated using Coulomb's Law, which states that the force between two point charges is directly proportional to the product of their charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. This can be represented by the equation F = kqQ/r^2, where F is the force, q and Q are the charges, r is the distance between them, and k is the Coulomb's constant.

3. What is the direction of a point charge electric field?

The direction of a point charge electric field is always away from a positive charge and towards a negative charge. This is because electric field lines represent the direction of the force that a positive test charge would experience if placed in the field. Therefore, the direction of the electric field is opposite to the direction of the force on a positive test charge.

4. Can a point charge electric field be shielded?

Yes, a point charge electric field can be shielded by placing a conductive material between the point charge and the area where the electric field is being measured. This is because conductive materials can redistribute the electric field lines and weaken the overall strength of the electric field. The larger the conductive material, the more effectively it can shield the electric field.

5. How does distance affect the strength of a point charge electric field?

The strength of a point charge electric field is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the point charge. This means that as the distance from the point charge increases, the strength of the electric field decreases. For example, if the distance is doubled, the strength of the electric field will decrease by a factor of four.

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