Struggling with Electric force.... The Superposition Principle

AI Thread Summary
When solving problems involving the superposition principle, confusion often arises regarding the signs of the force components. To determine the x and y components, remember that the x-axis typically designates left as negative and right as positive, while the y-axis defines up as positive and down as negative. Creating a diagram can clarify the directions of the forces and help assign the correct signs to each component. Visualizing the vectors and their components is essential for accurate calculations. Understanding these conventions can significantly aid in solving electric force problems.
Amaliahch
Messages
7
Reaction score
0
When I'm solving a superposition principle problem i get stuck and so confused with the signs.
For example this problem

Consider three point charges at the corners of a triangle, as shown at right, where q1 = 6.00 × 10−9 C, q2 = −2.00 × 10−9 C, and q3 = 5.00 × 10−9 C. Find the magnitude and direction of the resultant force on q3.

I know that first i find the magnitude of each force... F3,1 and F3,2. I'm ok with this part
But then when finding the x and y components of each individual force I get so confused as to what sign I should use!
PLEASE HELP
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Amaliahch said:
when finding the x and y components of each individual force I get so confused as to what sign I should use!

The x component is usually horizontal, in which case left is negative and right is positive. The y component is usually vertical, in which case up is positive and down is negative. Draw a diagram that shows the vectors and their components. You should be able to see the directions and assign the +/- signs accordingly.
 
jtbell said:
The x component is usually horizontal, in which case left is negative and right is positive. The y component is usually vertical, in which case up is positive and down is negative. Draw a diagram that shows the vectors and their components. You should be able to see the directions and assign the +/- signs accordingly.

Thank you! This helped so much
 
Thread 'Inducing EMF Through a Coil: Understanding Flux'
Thank you for reading my post. I can understand why a change in magnetic flux through a conducting surface would induce an emf, but how does this work when inducing an emf through a coil? How does the flux through the empty space between the wires have an effect on the electrons in the wire itself? In the image below is a coil with a magnetic field going through the space between the wires but not necessarily through the wires themselves. Thank you.
Thread 'Griffith, Electrodynamics, 4th Edition, Example 4.8. (Second part)'
I am reading the Griffith, Electrodynamics book, 4th edition, Example 4.8. I want to understand some issues more correctly. It's a little bit difficult to understand now. > Example 4.8. Suppose the entire region below the plane ##z=0## in Fig. 4.28 is filled with uniform linear dielectric material of susceptibility ##\chi_e##. Calculate the force on a point charge ##q## situated a distance ##d## above the origin. In the page 196, in the first paragraph, the author argues as follows ...
Back
Top