Question

A point charge of 5.00 μC is placed 25.0 cm to the left of a second point charge of -3.00 μC. Where can a third charge be placed so that the net force on it is zero?

A) 85.9 cm to the right of the -3.00 μC charge
B) 36.4 cm to the right of the -3.00 μC charge
C) 20.5 cm to the left of the -3.00 μC charge
D) 10.9 cm to the left of the -3.00 μC charrge

Answer 1

The third charge can be placed at a distance of 85.9 cm to the right of the -3.00 μC charge.

Step-by-step explanation:

To find the location of a third charge where the net force on it is zero, we can use the principle of superposition. Since the net force on a charge is the vector sum of the individual forces from the other charges, the third charge can be placed at a location where the forces from the two charges cancel each other out.

In this case, the net force will be zero when the third charge is placed between the two other charges, equidistant from them. To determine the exact location, we can use Coulomb's law, which states that the force between two charges is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.

By calculating the forces between the third charge and the other two charges at different locations, we can find that the third charge will be in equilibrium when it is placed at a distance of 85.9 cm to the right of the -3.00 μC charge (option A).