Question

Two charges are placed on the x axis, +5.00 μC at the origin and -12.0 μC at x = 10.0 cm.

a. Find the electric field on the x axis at x = 6.00 cm. Enter a positive value if the electric field points in the +x direction and a negative value if the electric field points in the -x direction. (Express your answer to three significant figures.)

Answer 1

The electric field on the x axis at x = 6.00 cm is -55 x 10⁶ N/C.

How to calculate the electric field?

The electric field at the x - axis is calculated by applying the following formula.

E = (kQ)/r²

where;

• k is Coulomb's constant
• Q is the charge
• r is the position of the charge

E = E₁ + E₂

the position for the first electric field = 6 cm

the position for the second electric field = 10 cm - 6 cm = 4 cm

E = (9 x 10⁹ x 5 x 10⁻⁶) / (0.06)² + (9 x 10⁹ x -12 x 10⁻⁶)/(0.04)²

E = 12,500,000 N/C - 67,500,000 N/C

E = -55 x 10⁶ N/C

Thus, the electric field on the x axis at x = 6.00 cm is -55 x 10⁶ N/C.