Question

What is the electric potential at the center of a square?

Answer 1

The electric potential at the center of a square depends on the distribution of charges on the square. If the square has a uniform charge distribution, the electric potential at the center would be zero. However, if there are charges located at specific points on the square, the electric potential at the center can be calculated using the principle of superposition.

Answer 2

To calculate the electric potential at the center of a square with identical corner charges, we use the formula V = kQ/r. Multiply the potential from one charge by four to get the total potential at the center, then multiply by the moving charge q to get the required energy.

Step-by-step explanation:

The calculation of the electric potential at the center of a square with charges at each corner involves using the formula for the electric potential V caused by a point charge, which is V = kQ/r, where k is Coulomb's constant, Q is the charge, and r is the distance from the charge to the point in question.

To find the energy required to bring a charge q from infinity to the center of the square, we must sum the potentials due to each charge at the corners. Since the charges at the corners are identical and equidistant from the center, we can calculate the potential due to one charge and multiply by four. The side of the square is given as 10 cm, so the distance from a corner to the center (using Pythagoras' theorem) will be (10/√2) cm. Plugging in the values, we find the potential at the center, and then multiply by the charge q that is brought to the center to get the energy required for this process.