Four point charges sit at the corners of a square of side in vacuum

PHYSICS · Multi-part · Fermi University Physics · Electricity, Magnetism & Electromagnetism · Electrostatic fields and potential · Electrostatic fields and potential

Electricity, Magnetism and Electromagnetism, Ch Electric charge, Coulomb's law and the electric field

Problem

Four point charges sit at the corners of a square of side

a = 4.0\,\mathrm{cm}

in vacuum, all held fixed. Take the corner

O

as the origin, with the square's sides along

+x

and

+y

. A charge

q_0 = +2.0\,\mathrm{nC}

sits at

O = (0, 0)

q_A = +5.0\,\mathrm{nC}

A = (0, a)

q_B = +5.0\,\mathrm{nC}

B = (a, 0)

, and

q_C = -5.0\,\mathrm{nC}

at the opposite corner

C = (a, a)

. ((a)) Find the

x

and

y

components of the net force on

q_0

. ((b)) Find the size of that force and describe its direction. ((c)) The charge at

C

is replaced by a different charge. What charge at

C

would make the net force on

q_0

zero?

Browse the problem library