The electric field at the center of a square

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on understanding the calculation of the electric field at the center of a square, specifically why the side length 'a' is divided by sqrt(2). The confusion arises from the relationship between the diagonal distance and the distance from the center to a corner, which is indeed a/sqrt(2). Participants clarify that the diagonal length is a*sqrt(2), and halving this gives the center-to-corner distance as a/sqrt(2). The x-component is correctly factored in using cos(45), leading to the same numerical result. Overall, the mathematical reasoning aligns, confirming that dividing by sqrt(2) is accurate for this scenario.
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http://helios.augustana.edu/~dr/203/probs/Set%201.pdf
Scroll down to #11 for a picture.

So I kind of understand the math. I am a little confuse though. So why is a divided by sqrt(2)?
If this is a vector, then the center is really (a(sqrt(2)))/2 and the x component would be divided by sqrt(2) which makes the equation equal a/2. Can someone explain this? Is my math wrong?
 
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The diagonal distance from corner to corner is a*2^.5 and the distance from corner to the center is half of that,

a*2^.5/2 = a/2^.5

Yes?
 
The distance from the center to any corner is a/\sqrt{2}, that's why a is divided by sqrt(2).

Taking the x-component is accounted for by the cos(45) in the expression.
 
I'm not sure why it's a/sqrt(2). I do know that (a(sqrt(2))/2 is the exact same number. I don't know why.

Basically, I found the length of the diagonal, a(sqrt(2)) and divided it by 2. It's the same as a/sqrt(2)
 
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