What is the Electric Field at Point P in the Presence of Two Charges?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around determining the electric field at a specific point P due to two charges, one being q and the other 2q. Participants are exploring the implications of the electric fields generated by these charges and their interaction at point P.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the need to calculate the electric fields from both charges at point P and consider their directions. There is an attempt to express the net electric field as a difference between the two fields.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided guidance on how to approach the problem by suggesting to find the individual fields and consider their directions. There is an ongoing exploration of the calculations involved, but no consensus has been reached on the final expression for the electric field.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working with the assumption that the electric fields from the two charges act in opposite directions at point P. There may be constraints related to the specific configuration of the charges and their distances from point P that are not fully detailed in the discussion.

JJones_86
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Homework Statement


In the figure below , what is the electric field at point P?
2qx594z.gif


Homework Equations



F = k*(q1*q2)/r^2


The Attempt at a Solution



F = k*(2q^2) / (2d + d)^2


That is my attempt, but it's not a possible answer.. Any help is appreciated.
 
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At P the fields are in the opposite direction. So find the field at P due to q and 2q, and take the difference.
 
rl.bhat said:
At P the fields are in the opposite direction. So find the field at P due to q and 2q, and take the difference.

Oh ok, so it should be kq/2d^2 then?
 
Yes.
 

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