Question

Three spheres, each with a negative chrge of 4.0x10^6C, are fixed at the vertices of an equilateral triangle whose sides are 0.20 m long. Calculate the magnitude and direction of the net electric force on each spehere.

I already posted this question and was given a solution. I thought I understood it, but when I tried to actually solve it myslf, it did not work out. The answer should be 6.2N and I am getting 3.1N as an answer. Aditionally, I don't know how to find the angle.

Answer 1

Angle? Use arguments of symettry, it points away from the center of the triangle.

Now some other arguements of symettry:
1) Since the triangle is 60-60-60, then the force component bisecting the angle (this is the path of the resulatant force) will be Forcefromcorner*sin30. You have computed the force from one corner to be 3.1N. So the force component bisecting the angle will be 3.1/2. Now add the force component from the other corner.
total force: 6.2N

Answer 2

Why does the 4x10^6 became 4x10^-6. I am pretty confuse