Answer to Question #166222 in Electricity and Magnetism for Farooq

Question

two equal positive charges q1 = q2 = 2 microcoulomb are located at x = 0, y = 0.30 metre and x = 0, y = - 0.30 metre respectively. what are the magnitude and direction of the electric force q1 and q2 exert on a third charge Q4 microcoulomb at x = 0.40 metre, y = 0?

Answer 1

$F_1=F_2=\frac{kq_1q_3}{r^2},$

$F_1=F_2=\frac{9\cdot 10^9\cdot 2\cdot 10^{-6}\cdot 4\cdot10^{-6}}{{0.3^2+0.4^4}}=0.288~\text{N},$

$F=2F_1cos( atan \frac 34)=\frac 85 F_1=0.46~ \text {N},$

the direction is the same as the direction of the positive x-axis.