Interactive · 2 questions

Important Equations:

Fe=Kq1q2r2F_e = \frac{Kq_1q_2}{r^2}

E=Fqo=Kqr2E = \frac{F}{q_o} = \frac{Kq}{r^2}

Example 1:

Put a -3nC charge at P and calculate the Electric Force. Let r = 0.5m

Step 1: Calculate the E caused by each charge (A, B, C, D). Ignore sign while calculating the magnitude of E and use it to determine the direction of E.

EE from A = (9×109)(2×10−9)(0.5)2=72Nc(−i)\frac{(9\times10^9)(2\times10^{-9})}{(0.5)^2} = 72\frac{N}{c}(-i)

Note that since P has a negative charge and A has a positive charge, the E from A will move in the −i-i direction toward P. (72Nc(−i)72\frac{N}{c}(-i) is the same as −72Nci-72\frac{N}{c}i)

EE from B = (9×109)(4×10−9)(1)2=36Nc(+i)\frac{(9\times10^9)(4\times10^{-9})}{(1)^2} = 36\frac{N}{c}(+i)

Note that since P has a negative charge and B has a negative charge, the E from B will move in the +i+i direction away from P

EE from C = (9×109)(4×10−9)(1.5)2=16Nc(−i)\frac{(9\times10^9)(4\times10^{-9})}{(1.5)^2} = 16\frac{N}{c}(-i)

EE from D = (9×109)(6×10−9)(2)2=13.5Nc(+i)\frac{(9\times10^9)(6\times10^{-9})}{(2)^2} = 13.5\frac{N}{c}(+i)

Step 2: Add up the E at point P from A, B, C and D

E=−72+36−16+13.5=−38.5NciE = -72+36-16+13.5 = -38.5\frac{N}{c}i

Step 3: Calculate the Electric Force using the E at point P from A, B, C and D

F=qoE=(−3×10−9)(−38.5)=1.55×10−7NF = q_oE = (-3\times10^{-9})(-38.5) = 1.55\times10^{-7}N

Example 2:

Put a +3nC charge at P and calculate the Electric Force. Let r = 0.5m

EE from A = (9×109)(2×10−9)(0.5)2=72Nci\frac{(9\times10^9)(2\times10^{-9})}{(0.5)^2} = 72\frac{N}{c}i

EE from B = (9×109)(2×10−9)(0.5)2=72Nci\frac{(9\times10^9)(2\times10^{-9})}{(0.5)^2} = 72\frac{N}{c}i

EE from C = (9×109)(6×10−9)(1)2=−54Nci\frac{(9\times10^9)(6\times10^{-9})}{(1)^2} = -54\frac{N}{c}i

EE from D = (9×109)(2×10−9)(0.5)2=−72Ncj\frac{(9\times10^9)(2\times10^{-9})}{(0.5)^2} = -72\frac{N}{c}j

EE from E = (9×109)(4×10−9)(0.5)2=−144Ncj\frac{(9\times10^9)(4\times10^{-9})}{(0.5)^2} = -144\frac{N}{c}j

EE from F = (9×109)(6×10−9)(1)2=54Ncj\frac{(9\times10^9)(6\times10^{-9})}{(1)^2} = 54\frac{N}{c}j

E=72i+72i−54i−72j−144j+54j=90i−162jNcE = 72i + 72i - 54i - 72j - 144j +54j = 90i - 162j \frac{N}{c}

F=qoE=(3×10−9)(90i−162j)=2.7×10−7i−4.86×10−7jNF = q_oE = (3\times10^{-9})( 90i - 162j) = 2.7\times10^{-7}i - 4.86\times10^{-7}j N

In short, electric field at any point of space is the vector sum of the fields at that point of all individual sources for superposition.

Test Yourself:

Calculate the Electric Force at P. Let r = 0.5m Hint: This is an equilateral triangle so the angle at A, B and P is 60 degrees

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