Which way does the electric field go in this question?

[mistermill]

Homework Statement

Find the electric field midway between a -3.0nC charge and a -5.0 nC charge that are separated by 0.60 m.

Homework Equations

ε= kq/r²

The Attempt at a Solution

net ε = ε₁ + ₂

I drew my -3.0 charge on the left and my -5.0 charge on the right

midway in between is 0.3 m

they are both negative charges, so the fields lines are towards each charge (away from the centre) and the -5.0 charge has more lines, because it has the bigger charge

so I solved for ε ₁ and got -300 N/C
I solved for ε ₂ and got -500 N/C

I think that ε ₁ should be subtracted from ε ₂ so the result is

-200 N/C

The field overall, I think should point toward the larger negative charge

it should point toward the -5.0 nC charge, in my drawing, to the RIGHT.

is that correct?

Thanks!

 

[SammyS]

Homework Statement

Find the electric field midway between a -3.0nC charge and a -5.0 nC charge that are separated by 0.60 m.

Homework Equations

ε= kq/r²

The Attempt at a Solution

net ε = ε₁ + ε₂

I drew my -3.0 charge on the left and my -5.0 charge on the right

midway in between is 0.3 m

they are both negative charges, so the fields lines are towards each charge (away from the centre) and the -5.0 charge has more lines, because it has the bigger charge

so I solved for ε ₁ and got -300 N/C
I solved for ε ₂ and got -500 N/C

I think that ε ₁ should be subtracted from ε ₂ so the result is

-200 N/C

The field overall, I think should point toward the larger negative charge

it should point toward the -5.0 nC charge, in my drawing, to the left.

is that correct?

Thanks!

Yes, the field at the midpoint, points toward the -5.0 nC charge.