What is the net electric field produced by three point …

Physics Questions

What is the net electric field produced by three point charges, each with a charge of 1 µC, placed at the vertices of an equilateral triangle with sides of 10 cm?

Short Answer

The problem involves three +1 ¬¨¬µC point charges at the vertices of a 10 cm equilateral triangle. Each charge generates an electric field of 8.99 ‚àöo 10‚ÄöA¬µ N/C, but due to symmetry, these fields cancel out at the triangle’s center, resulting in a net electric field of 0 N/C.

Step-by-Step Solution

Step 1: Identify the Geometry and Charges

The first step is to understand the setup of the problem. You have three point charges, each with a charge of +1 µC, positioned at the vertices of an equilateral triangle. The side length of the triangle is 10 cm. This configuration is crucial as it dictates how the electric fields from each charge will interact.

Step 2: Calculate the Electric Field from a Single Charge

Next, calculate the electric field produced by one charge at a vertex. The formula for the electric field (E) from a single charge (q) at a distance (r) is: E = k * q / r¬¨‚â§. Here, k is Coulomb’s constant (8.99 ‚àöo 10‚ÄöAœÄ N m¬¨‚â§/C¬¨‚â§) and the distance (r) to each charge is 0.1 m (converted from 10 cm). By substituting the values, you can compute the electric field:

  • Calculate E = 8.99 ‚àöo 10‚ÄöA¬µ N/C for one charge.

Step 3: Determine the Resultant Electric Field

Finally, analyze how the three electric fields interact. Since the system is symmetric, the electric fields from the three charges will point away from the charges and combine. Due to the symmetry of the equilateral triangle, these fields will cancel each other out, resulting in a net electric field of 0 N/C at the center of the triangle. This illustrates the principle of superposition in electric fields.

Related Concepts

Geometry

The shape and configuration of the arrangement of charges, in this case, an equilateral triangle formed by three point charges.

Electric Field

A physical quantity representing the force per unit charge exerted by an electric charge at a certain distance, calculated using the formula e = k * q / r².

Superposition

The principle that states the total electric field created by multiple charges is the vector sum of the electric fields produced by each individual charge.

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