Two identical point charges are fixed at the points and on the Cartesian axes

PHYSICS · Subjective · AP · Physics 2: Algebra-based · Electric Force Field and Potential · Electric Force Field and Potential

Problem

Two identical point charges

q=+2\,\mu\text{C}

are fixed at the points

(a,0,0)

and

(-a,0,0)

on the Cartesian axes, where

a=0.20\,\text{m}

. A test charge

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

is placed at the point

(0,a,0)

. (a) Write the position vectors of all three charges. (b) For each source charge, obtain the displacement vector from the source charge to

q_0

and the corresponding unit vector. (c) Using these unit vectors, find the individual force vectors acting on

q_0

due to each source charge. (d) By vector addition, determine the resultant force vector

\vec F_{\text{net}}

q_0

. (e) Calculate the magnitude of

\vec F_{\text{net}}

and state its direction with respect to the coordinate axes.