A particle of charge +2q is placed at the origin and particle of charge -q is placed on the x-axis at x = 2a. Where on the x-axis can a third positive charge be placed so that the net electric force on it is zero? a is the unit of distance.

Answer :

whitneytr12

Answer:

[tex]r_{31}=\frac{2a\sqrt{2}}{1+\sqrt{2}}[/tex]  

Explanation:

We know that the electric force equation is:

[tex]F=k\frac{q_{1}*q_{2}}{r^{2}}[/tex]

  • k is the electric constant [tex]9*10^{9} Nm^{2}/C^{2}[/tex]
  • r is the distance between the particles
  • q1 and q2 are the particle

Now, we have three particles, the first one at x=0, the second one at x=2a and the third in some place between these two particle.

1. Let's find the electric force between the first particle and the third particle.

[tex]F_{31}=k\frac{q_{3}*q_{1}}{r_{31}^{2}}[/tex]

[tex]F_{31}=k\frac{q*2q}{r_{31}^{2}}[/tex]

[tex]F_{31}=k\frac{2q^{2}}{r_{31}^{2}}[/tex]

r(31) is the distance between 3 and 1

2. Now,  let's find the electric force between the third particle and the second particle.

[tex]F_{32}=k\frac{q_{3}*q_{2}}{x_{32}^{2}}[/tex]

[tex]F_{32}=k\frac{q*(-q)}{r_{32}^{2}}[/tex]

[tex]F_{32}=-k\frac{q^{2}}{r_{32}^{2}}[/tex]

r(32) is the distance between 3 and 2.

Now, [tex]r_{31}+r_{32}=2a[/tex] or [tex]r_{32}=2a-r_{31}[/tex]

The net force must be zero so:

[tex]F_{31}+F_{32}=0[\tex]

[tex]k\frac{2q^{2}}{r_{31}^{2}}-k\frac{q^{2}}{r_{32}^{2}}=0[\tex]  

[tex]kq^{2}(\frac{2}{r_{31}^{2}}-\frac{1}{r_{32}^{2}})=0[\tex]

[tex]kq^{2}(\frac{2}{r_{31}^{2}}-\frac{1}{(2a-r_{31})^{2}})=0[\tex]

It means that:

[tex]\frac{2}{r_{31}^{2}}-\frac{1}{(2a-r_{31})^{2}}[/tex]

We just need to solve it for r(31)

[tex]r_{31}^{2}=2(2a-r_{31})^{2}[/tex]

[tex]r_{31}^{2}=2(2a-r_{31})^{2}[/tex]

[tex]r_{31}=\frac{2a\sqrt{2}}{1+\sqrt{2}}[/tex]  

Therefore the distance from the origin will be:

[tex]r_{31}=\frac{2a\sqrt{2}}{1+\sqrt{2}}[/tex]  

I hope it helps you!        

                 

 

     

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