Question

There are only two charged particles in a particular region. Particle 1 carries a charge of 3q and is located on the negative x-axis a distance d from the origin. Particle 2 carries a charge of -2q and is located on the positive x-axis a distance d from the origin.

Required:
Where is it possible to have the net field caused by these two charges equal to zero?

Answer 1

The net electric field caused by the two charges will never be zero along the x-axis.

Step-by-step explanation:

To find the location where the net field caused by the two charges equals zero, we need to consider their electric field vectors and their magnitudes. The net electric field at any point is the vector sum of the electric fields created by both charges. The two charges are located on the x-axis at distances d from the origin. The negative charge has a charge of 3q, and the positive charge has a charge of -2q.

To have the net electric field equal to zero, the magnitudes of the electric fields produced by the two charges should be the same. Since the charges have different magnitudes, the electric field on the positive x-axis due to the positive charge will be larger in magnitude than the electric field due to the negative charge.

Therefore, there is no point on the x-axis where the net electric field will be zero. The electric fields will always add up to a nonzero value along the x-axis.