Calculate the resultant force at Q3

IF
Q1=-16 μC
distances from Q1 TO Q2 is =0.6m
Q2=6 μC
distances from Q1 to Q2 is =0.3m
Q3=-8 μC
IN SIMPLE STEPS

1 answer

To calculate the resultant force at Q3, we need to consider the forces from Q1 and Q2 on Q3. The force between two charges can be calculated using Coulomb's law:

F = k * (Q1 * Q2) / d^2

where F is the force, k is the electrostatic constant (9 x 10^9 N*m^2/C^2), Q1 and Q2 are the charges, and d is the distance between the charges.

First, let's calculate the force from Q1 on Q3:
F1 = k * (Q1 * Q3) / d1^2

Given Q1 = -16 μC, Q3 = -8 μC, and d1 = 0.6m:

F1 = (9 x 10^9 N*m^2/C^2) * (-16 μC * -8 μC) / (0.6m)^2

F1 = (9 x 10^9 N*m^2/C^2) * (128 x 10^-12 C^2) / (0.36m^2)

F1 = (9 x 10^9 N*m^2/C^2) * (1.28 x 10^-10) / 0.1296

F1 = 88.8889 N

Next, let's calculate the force from Q2 on Q3:
F2 = k * (Q2 * Q3) / d2^2

Given Q2 = 6 μC, Q3 = -8 μC, and d2 = 0.3m:

F2 = (9 x 10^9 N*m^2/C^2) * (6 μC * -8 μC) / (0.3m)^2

F2 = (9 x 10^9 N*m^2/C^2) * (-48 x 10^-12 C^2) / (0.09m^2)

F2 = (9 x 10^9 N*m^2/C^2) * (-4.8 x 10^-10) / 0.0081

F2 = -400000 N

Now, to find the resultant force at Q3, we need to add the forces F1 and F2:

Resultant force (FR) = F1 + F2

FR = 88.8889 N + (-400000 N)

FR = -399911.1111 N

Therefore, the resultant force at Q3 is approximately -399911.1111 N.