Question

A charge of -3.40 nC is placed at the origin of an xy-coordinate system, and a charge of 2.25 nC is placed on the y axis at y = 4.40 cm .

(A) If a third charge, of 5.00 nC , is now placed at the point x = 3.50 cm , y = 4.40 cm find the x and y components of the total force exerted on this charge by the other two charges.

(B) Find the magnitude of this force.

(C) Find the direction of this force. ( below the +x axis )

Answer 1

Solution:

Here we have 3 charges. We need to find the force exerted on 5nC charge by the other two charges. Force between two opposite charges will be attractive force and force between two similar charges will be repulsive.

To find the magnitude we can use Coulombs law. And to find the direction we need to use some trigonometry.

Detailed calculations with figures are given below: