Question

Two point charges are on the x axis. Charge 1 is +q and is located at x= -1.0m; charge 2 is -2q and is located at x= 1.0m. Make sketches of the equipotential surfaces for this system

(a) out to a distance of about 2.0m from the origin and
(b) far from the origin.
In each case, indicate the direction in which the potential increases.

Answer 1

Equipotential surfaces for the given point charges are circular near the charges and merge into a single surface far from the origin, with the potential increasing away from the charges.

Step-by-step explanation:

Equipotential surfaces are imaginary surfaces in an electric field that represent an equal potential at every point on the surface. In the case of two point charges, the equipotential surfaces near the charges will be concentric circles centered around each charge. The potential increases as you move away from the charges.

(a) Near the charges, the equipotential surfaces will be circular, centered around each charge. The potential increases as you move away from each charge in a radial direction.

(b) Far from the origin, the equipotential surfaces for the two charges will merge into a single equipotential surface with the potential increasing in the direction away from the charges.