Question

An airplane is flying through a thundercloud at a height of 2 000 m. (this is a very dangerous thing to do because of updrafts, turbulence, and the possibility of electric discharge.) if there is a charge concentration of +40 c at height 3 000 m within the cloud and ï­40 c at height 1 000 m, what is the magnitude of the electric field e at the aircraft? (ke = 8.99 ï´ 109 n·m2/c2)

Answer 1

It is given that an airplane is flying through a thundercloud at a height of 2000 m.

Since the parity of charges is opposite and the airplane lies between the two charges and both the electric fields are in the same direction at the plane. Therefore, the magnitudes of the electric field at the aircrafts will add up.
Now, check the image to see the calculations:

Answer 2

Please see the attached file for the answer.