Question

Three point charges are arranged at the corners of a square as shown. In this problem, we want to determine the electric field at the location of the dot.

 a) Calculate the strength (magnitude) of the electric field at the dot due to the -10 nC point charge.

 b) Calculate the strength (magnitude) of the electric field at the dot due to the +10 nC point charge.

 c) Calculate the strength (magnitude) of the electric field at the dot due to the -5.0 nC point charge.

 d) Draw three appropriately scaled arrows, each with their tail on the dot, to show the three separate contributions to the total electric field at the dot.

 e) Describe briefly how you need to use the results from (a) - (d) to determine the magnitude and direction of the total electric field at the dot. You do not have to perform the calculation (but it would be good practice for the first test.)

 f) Describe briefly how you could use your answer to (e) to determine the force (magnitude and direction) on a 1.5 nC point charge placed at the position of the dot.

Answer 1