Question

Four charges are placed at the corners of a square. What is the net electric field at the center of the square?

1) Zero
2) Non-zero
3) Cannot be determined without knowing the magnitudes and signs of the charges

Answer 1

The net electric field at the center of the square will be zero if the charges on the four corners are exactly equal.

Step-by-step explanation:

The net electric field at the center of the square will be zero if the charges on the four corners are exactly equal.

This can be shown by using the symmetry of the arrangement. Since the charges are equal and located at the corners of a square, the electric fields due to each charge cancel each other out at the center, resulting in a net electric field of zero.

For any combination of charges in which the magnitudes and signs of the charges are equal, the net electric field at the center of the square will also be zero.