Question

Three point charges, −5.8 × 10⁻⁹ C, −9.0 × 10⁻⁹ C, and 7.3 × 10⁻⁹ C, are fixed at different positions on a circle. The total electric potential at the center of the circle is −2100 V. What is the radius of the circle?

Answer 1

To find the radius of the circle with three fixed point charges, we can use the concept of electric potential. The electric potential at the center of the circle is the sum of the electric potentials due to each individual charge. We can solve for the radius by setting the total electric potential to -2100V and substituting the given values for the charges.

Step-by-step explanation:

To find the radius of the circle with three fixed point charges, we can use the concept of electric potential. The electric potential at the center of the circle is the sum of the electric potentials due to each individual charge. The formula for electric potential at a point due to a point charge is V=kq/r, where V is the electric potential, k is Coulomb's constant (9 x 10^9 Nm^2/C^2), q is the charge, and r is the distance from the charge to the point where the potential is being calculated.

Using this formula, we can calculate the electric potential due to each charge and then sum them together to get the total electric potential at the center of the circle:

V1=kq1/r, V2=kq2/r, V3=kq3/r

Total electric potential = V1 + V2 + V3

Setting this total electric potential to -2100V and substituting the given values for the charges, we can solve for the radius of the circle.