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Particles q1, q2, and q3 are in a straight line.

Particles q1 = -5.00 x 10-6 C,q2 = +2.50 x 10-6 C,
and q3 = -2.50 x 10-6 C. Particles q₁ and q2 are
separated by 0.500 m. Particles q2 and q3 are
separated by 0.250 m. What is the net force on q2?

User Han
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1 Answer

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10 votes

Final answer:

To calculate the net force on q2, Coulomb's Law is applied to determine the forces between q1 and q2, and q2 and q3, then these forces are added vectorially considering their directions, with repulsion between like charges and attraction between opposite charges.

Step-by-step explanation:

The subject of the student's question is Physics, specifically dealing with the concept of electrostatics and Coulomb's Law which is used to calculate the electric force between charges. To find the net force on particle q2, one would apply Coulomb's law twice for the interactions between q1 and q2, and between q2 and q3. The force due to q1 on q2 will have a different magnitude and potentially different direction compared to the force due to q3 on q2 because of the differing distances and charges. By finding the magnitudes of these forces and simply adding them as vectors (since they are along the same line), we can determine the net force on q2. It is important to consider the direction of the forces, where like charges repel and opposite charges attract.

User Jamiew
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