What Is the Resultant Direction of the Electric Field at Rho?

[bryanwalsh]

Homework Statement

Find the direction of E at rho where is the electric field

http://i.imgur.com/37ohyME.jpg

Homework Equations

F=KQq/r^2

The Attempt at a Solution

I thought I might just have a vector pointing right from the +2Q and another pointing up from the +3Q and just add those two vectors together but I'm not sure.

 

[tiny-tim]

hi bryanwalsh! welcome to pf!

(try using the X² button just above the Reply box )

I thought I might just have a vector pointing right from the +2Q and another pointing up from the +3Q and just add those two vectors together but I'm not sure.

that's correct … electric fields are vectors, so they add like vectors

 

[bryanwalsh]

So which way would the direction vector face? Southeast?

 

[bryanwalsh]

hi bryanwalsh! welcome to pf!

(try using the X² button just above the Reply box )


that's correct … electric fields are vectors, so they add like vectors

So which way would the direction vector of the electric field face? Southeast?

 

[tiny-tim]

maybe yes and maybe no

tell us why you think it's southeast (with equations), and then we'll comment

 

[bryanwalsh]

maybe yes and maybe no

tell us why you think it's southeast (with equations), and then we'll comment

 

[tiny-tim]

(just got up :zzz:)

if one vector is up, and the other is horizontal, how can the resultant be down??

you need to draw a much better diagram, with arrows to show which way the vectors are going

or, preferably, use components