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Point charges of (5.00 , mu C) and (3.00 , mu C) are placed (0.250 {m}) apart.

a) Where can a third charge be placed so that the net force on it is zero?
A) (0.833 {m}) from the (5.00 , mu C) charge
B) (0.833 {m}) from the (3.00 , mu C) charge
C) (1.25 {m}) from the (5.00 , mu C) charge
D) (1.25 {m}) from the (3.00 , mu C) charge

1 Answer

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Final answer:

A third charge can be placed at a distance of 1.25m from the -3.00μC charge to have a net force of zero. The correct answer is D) (1.25 {m}) from the (3.00 , mu C) charge.

Step-by-step explanation:

To find the point where a third charge can be placed so that the net force on it is zero, we need to consider the forces exerted by the two existing charges. The net force on a charge due to another charge is given by Coulomb's law, which states that the force is directly proportional to the product of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.

Since the two charges have opposite signs, the net force on a third charge will be zero if it is placed between them at a distance that balances the individual forces. In this case, the net force will be zero if the third charge is placed at a distance of 1.25m from the -3.00μC charge (D).

This concept is based on Coulomb's Law, which describes the force between two point charges. For a third charge to experience zero net force, it must be positioned at a point where the forces due to the other two charges cancel each other out.

In the case where the charges are opposite (one positive, one negative), the point where the net force on the third charge is zero would be within the line segment joining the two charges, closer to the smaller magnitude charge.

User Abhinav Sood
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