Question

Consider a system two point charges. One has charge +q at (x, y,z) -(a,0,0) and another of charge-q at (x, y, z) = (-a, 0,0). 5.1 5 POINTS Draw a diagram of the electric field lines. 5.2 8 POINTS Compute the electric field at each of the following (x, y,z) locations (0,0,0) (0,0, R) for R> a and for0

Answer 1

electricfield at (0,0,0) is Et = 2 k q / a²

Step-by-step explanation:

For the first part see the diagram , the field lines start from the positive charge and reach the negative charge, notice that no line should cross, some lines go to infinity

For the second part we use that the electric field is a vector quantity and therefore we add the field of each charge, using the equation

E = k q / r²

Point (0,0,0)

We calculate for the charge -q which is at a distance R = a

E1 = k (-q) / a²

E1 = - kq / a²

As the test charge is positive in the field it goes to the left, attractive force

We calculate for the charge that is also at R = a

E2 = k q / a²

This field goes to the left, repulsive force

We find the total electric field

Et = E1 + E2

Et = kq / a² + kq / a²

Et = 2 k q / a²

Point (0,0, R)

We use the same equations, but with another distance, for the charge -q the distance is R = R+a and for the charge + q the distance is R = R-a

E1 = k q / (R + a)²

E2 = kq / (R-a)²

Et = kq [1 / (R + a)² + 1 / (R-a)²]

Et= kq {[(R-a)² + (R + a)²] / [(R + a)² (R-a)²]}

Et= kq {2 (R² + a²) / [(R + a)² (R-a)²]}

If we use the condition that R> a we can despise in the patents "a"

(R² + a²) = R² (1+ a² / R²) ≈ R²

(R + a)² = R² (1 + a / R)² ≈ R²

(R- a)² = R² (1-a / R)² ≈ R²

Substituting in the total electric field

Et = kq {2 R²) / [R²R²]}

Et =kq 2 / R²