Four point charges are fixed in the plane at the following coordinates: • at , • at ,…

PHYSICS · Subjective · A Level · Physics · Fields and their consequences · Fields and their consequences

Problem

Four point charges are fixed in the plane at the following coordinates: •

q_1 = +10\,\mu\text{C}

(-0.10\,\text{m},\,0)

, •

q_2 = -10\,\mu\text{C}

(+0.10\,\text{m},\,0)

, •

q_3 = +5\,\mu\text{C}

(0,\,+0.10\,\text{m})

, •

q_4 = -5\,\mu\text{C}

(0,\,-0.10\,\text{m})

. A test charge

q_0 = +1\,\mu\text{C}

is placed at the origin. (a) Calculate the individual forces on

q_0

due to each of the four fixed charges, expressing every force in component form

(F_x, F_y)

. (b) Hence find the net force components

(F_{x,\text{net}}, F_{y,\text{net}})

acting on

q_0

. (c) Determine the magnitude and direction of the resultant force on

q_0

with respect to the positive

x

-axis.