buttterfly41
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vector problem with electricity :(
Ok, so i am having problems with my vectors in two homework problems (or maybe i went wrong some where else)...
#1) Four identical point charges (q = +10.0 µC) are located on the corners of a rectangle. The dimensions of the rectangle are L = 70.0 cm and W = 25.0 cm. Calculate the magnitude and direction of the net electric force exerted on the charge at the lower left corner by the other three charges.
ok, so i drew a lovely picture of the rectangle with all three force vectors as repulsion. my work goes something like this:
F1= 8.99e9 * 10e-6 ^2 / .025^2 = 1438N
F2= 8.99e9 * 10e-6 ^2 / (.025^2+ .07^2) = 163N
F3= 8.99e9 * 10e-6 ^2 / .07^2 = 183.5N
Then made a vector table:
F1 x components = 0 and y components = 1438N
F2 x components = 163cos19.65= 153N y components...=54.7N
F3 x components = 183.5 N and y = 0
I then added up the x to get Fx=337N and Fy=1493N
then F= (337^2 + 1493^2) ^1/2 = 1530N (but that's wrong)
but then i got the angle by taking hte inverse tan of 1493/337 = 257degrees and that is correct, so i don't really know why my force magnitude is worng... and i have another problem on my homework that is similar and i keep getting it wrong too, so i think i am doing something wrong with my vectors... any ideas or help would be greatly appreciated. THANKS!
Ok, so i am having problems with my vectors in two homework problems (or maybe i went wrong some where else)...
#1) Four identical point charges (q = +10.0 µC) are located on the corners of a rectangle. The dimensions of the rectangle are L = 70.0 cm and W = 25.0 cm. Calculate the magnitude and direction of the net electric force exerted on the charge at the lower left corner by the other three charges.
ok, so i drew a lovely picture of the rectangle with all three force vectors as repulsion. my work goes something like this:
F1= 8.99e9 * 10e-6 ^2 / .025^2 = 1438N
F2= 8.99e9 * 10e-6 ^2 / (.025^2+ .07^2) = 163N
F3= 8.99e9 * 10e-6 ^2 / .07^2 = 183.5N
Then made a vector table:
F1 x components = 0 and y components = 1438N
F2 x components = 163cos19.65= 153N y components...=54.7N
F3 x components = 183.5 N and y = 0
I then added up the x to get Fx=337N and Fy=1493N
then F= (337^2 + 1493^2) ^1/2 = 1530N (but that's wrong)
but then i got the angle by taking hte inverse tan of 1493/337 = 257degrees and that is correct, so i don't really know why my force magnitude is worng... and i have another problem on my homework that is similar and i keep getting it wrong too, so i think i am doing something wrong with my vectors... any ideas or help would be greatly appreciated. THANKS!