Three point charges are fixed at the vertices of a right-angled triangle

PHYSICS · Multi-part · A Level · Physics · Fields and their consequences · Fields and their consequences

Problem

ABC

, where

\angle B=90^{\circ}

AB=0.30\,\text{m}

and

BC=0.40\,\text{m}

. The charges are

q_A=+6.0\,\mu\text{C}

A

q_B=-4.0\,\mu\text{C}

B

and

q_C=+5.0\,\mu\text{C}

C

. All interactions take place in air. (a) Draw a clear labelled diagram showing the directions of the forces acting on the charge at vertex

A

due to the other two charges. (b) Calculate the magnitude of the force on

q_A

due to

q_B

and state its direction in terms of the line

AB

. (c) Calculate the magnitude of the force on

q_A

due to

q_C

and state its direction relative to the line

AC

. (d) Using vector components along the mutually perpendicular sides of the triangle, determine the magnitude and direction of the net electrostatic force acting on

q_A

. (e) Express the direction of the net force obtained in part (d) as an angle with respect to side

AB

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