Question
Given a square of sidelength a = 5 cm. We place a charged particle at each corner, three of them carry + 2 nC of charge and one carries the same amount of negative charge.
What is the magnitude of the electric field at the center of the square?
I don't know how to start this problem and would really appreciate it if someone could tell me the method.
Thank you
What is the magnitude of the electric field at the center of the square?
I don't know how to start this problem and would really appreciate it if someone could tell me the method.
Thank you
Answers
The center of the square is 5/sqrt2 = 3.535 cm from each corner. The fields due to the two +2nC charges at opposite corners will cancel out. The other two opposite charges will add, and the field will act along the diagonal between them.
Calculate the E field due to the negative charge using Coulomb's Law, and double it to account for the positive charge at the opposite corner.
Calculate the E field due to the negative charge using Coulomb's Law, and double it to account for the positive charge at the opposite corner.
Is the point charge considered to have a charge of 1?