Asked by Lauren
A +3.0 nC charge is at x=0 cm and a -1.0 nC charge is at x=4 cm. At what point or points on the x-axis is the electric potential zero?
Answers
Answered by
drwls
Wherever 3/|x| - 1/|4-x| = 0 , the electric potential is zero.
|x| is the distance from the +3 nC charge and |4-x| is the distance from the -1 nC charge.
To omit the absolute value | | signs and solve algebraically, you need to write and solve separate equations for x<0, 0<x<4 and x>4
For 0<x<4,
3/x - 1/(4-x) = 0
3/x = 1/(4-x)
12 - 3x = x
x = 3
See if there are solutions in the other regions.
|x| is the distance from the +3 nC charge and |4-x| is the distance from the -1 nC charge.
To omit the absolute value | | signs and solve algebraically, you need to write and solve separate equations for x<0, 0<x<4 and x>4
For 0<x<4,
3/x - 1/(4-x) = 0
3/x = 1/(4-x)
12 - 3x = x
x = 3
See if there are solutions in the other regions.
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