Resultant Force on Q1 from Three Point Charges

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around calculating the resultant force on charge Q1 due to two other point charges. It emphasizes that the forces acting on Q1 from the other charges must be treated as vectors, considering their radial directions. The user initially miscalculated the forces by adding them directly but later realized the need to resolve them into a single resultant vector. The correct approach involves finding the magnitudes of the forces F1 and F2, factoring in the angle between them, and then combining them vectorially. This method will yield the accurate resultant force on Q1.
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Three point charges with a distance a between them (as shown). What is the resultant force on q1?

Is this correct or am I doing this completely wrong?

edit: that should be Q1 multiplied by Q3 not adding

http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/3668/untitledxr7.jpg
 
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You're partially right. The F's on your answer should be vectors, since the forces applied on the charge by different charges are on different directions (radial ones)
 
Thanks. I knew adding the two forces like that couldn't be right

so if i find the value of F1 and F2 (angle of 60 degrees between them), and resolve them into one resultant vector force.. that will be the correct answer?
 
Yes.
{\vec{F}}_{TOTAL} = \vec{F}_1 + \vec{F}_2
 

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