Potential at a point multiple choice question ( aqa)

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The discussion revolves around calculating electric potential from multiple point charges, specifically addressing scenarios with both positive and negative charges. It emphasizes that potentials can be added like scalars, regardless of charge sign. Questions arise about determining the resultant potential at specific points, such as the middle point and the bottom left corner, when one charge is negative. The importance of knowing the distances from the point of interest to each charge is highlighted for accurate calculations. Overall, understanding how to combine potentials from different charges is crucial for solving these problems.
bonbon22
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Homework Statement
https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/sample-papers-and-mark-schemes/2018/june/AQA-74082-QP-JUN18.PDF
question 22 on the multiple choice near the end
Relevant Equations
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I understand how they arrived at the answer of 2Q , but i have a couple of questions on this. If one of the charges were negative for example how would the resultant potential be found then? at the middle point would i add the positive charges and subtracted the negative ? Also what would the potential be at for the corner , for example the bottom left corner assuming the charges were Q, Q, Q , 2Q?
 
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bonbon22 said:
If one of the charges were negative for example how would the resultant potential be found then?
What's the potential from a point charge? How does it depend on the sign of the charge? (Note: Potentials from multiple charges can just be added like scalars.)
 
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Doc Al said:
What's the potential from a point charge? How does it depend on the sign of the charge? (Note: Potentials from multiple charges can just be added like scalars.)
makes sense. what would the poential be at the bottom left corner?
 
bonbon22 said:
makes sense. what would the poential be at the bottom left corner?
You tell me. If you know the charges and their distance from the bottom left corner, you can find the potential at that point from those charges. (Don't include the potential from the charge residing there, since the problem becomes unphysical at zero distance.)
 
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The book claims the answer is that all the magnitudes are the same because "the gravitational force on the penguin is the same". I'm having trouble understanding this. I thought the buoyant force was equal to the weight of the fluid displaced. Weight depends on mass which depends on density. Therefore, due to the differing densities the buoyant force will be different in each case? Is this incorrect?

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