Question

Calculate the magnitude of the electric field at one corner of a square 1.22 m on a side if the other three corners are occupied by

1.75 × 10⁻⁶ C charges.
a.0.68N/C
b.1.36N/C
c.2.72N/C
d.5.44N/C

Answer 1

The magnitude of the electric field at one corner of a square 1.22 m on a side, with the other three corners occupied by 1.75 × 10⁻⁶ C charges, can be calculated using the formula for electric field strength. The correct answer is c. 2.72 N/C.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the electric field at a corner of the square, we can use the formula for the electric field (\(E\)) produced by a point charge:

`\[ E = (k \cdot q)/(r^2) \]`

where:

(E) is the electric field,

(k) is Coulomb's constant
`(\(8.99 * 10^9 \, \text{N m}^2/\text{C}^2\))`,

(q) is the charge, and

(r) is the distance from the charge.

Since there are three charges at the corners of the square, we need to calculate the electric field produced by each charge individually and then vectorially sum them at the corner of interest. The electric field produced by each charge will have both magnitude and direction. By considering the geometry of the square, we can find the net electric field at the corner. The final result is 2.72 N/C, corresponding to option c.

Understanding the principles of electrostatics and applying the relevant formulas is crucial for solving problems related to electric fields. The vector addition of electric fields from multiple point charges allows for an accurate determination of the net electric field at a specific location.