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Electric Forces


andie

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I need help answering this question:

 

A chage +q is located at the origin, while an identical charge is located on the x-axis at x= +0.50m. A third charge of +2q is located on the x-axis at such a place that the net electrostatic force on the charge at the origin doubles, its direction remaining unchanged. Where should the third charge be located?

 

I need some pointers on how to answer the question.

 

PLEASE HELP!

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Force = kQq/(r^2) Q=charge at point P and q=charge a distance r from P

 

So the initial force would equal k(Q^2)/.25

 

The problem specifies that the force doubles as a result of its placement. Thus, the force in question becomes 2k(Q^2)/.25 = 8k(Q^2)

 

Set this equal to the same force equation at the beginning

 

8k(Q^2) = kQq/(r^2) little q = 2Q by specification. as you can see, the Q^2 and k drops out and what is left is 8 = 2/(r^2)

 

You'll get two answers for R. Try to figure out which side of the charge placing 2Q will increase the force on the charge as opposed to counteracting the force due to the charge at 0.5 m

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First work out the force at the origin due to the first 2 charges. Using the electrostatic force formula for point charges, Coulomb's law:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coulomb's_law#Vector_form

 

For more than one charge you add them together, so the first 2 charges force at the origin added together timesed by 2 should be = to the 3 charges added together..

 

Which is pretty much what chemhelper said.

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