Point charges magnitude and direction

J89
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Homework Statement


Three point charges are located at the corners of an equilateral triangle as in the figure below. Find the magnitude and direction of the net electric force on the 0.40 µC charge. (A = 0.20 µC, B = 6.60 µC, and C = -3.80 µC.). Diagram below...



Homework Equations



F= Ke |q1||q2|/r^2, cos and sin symbols



The Attempt at a Solution



a) .20*10^-6*(6.60*10^-6)*8.99*10^9/(.500)^2 = .0474672
b) .20*10^-6*(3.80*10^-6)*8.99*10^9/(.500)^2 =.0273296

.0474672*cos(240) = .015463926386
.0474672*sin(240) = .044877634258

= .015463926386 + .0273296 = .042793526386

.042793526386^2 + .044877634258^2 = .003845287957 = sqrt(.003845287957 ) = 0.062 N. Direction is 275 degrees. However, according the real solution, the answer is not 0.062! Can someone find what I did wrong here?
 

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Where is the 0.40 µC charge located in the picture?

Edit: At any rate, I found the problem. You had your calculator in radians mode. In degrees mode, 0.0474672sin(240) = -0.0411.
 
Last edited:
it is supposed to be .20, sorry, but thanks :)
 

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