Question

g Let the charges start infinitely far away and infinitely far apart. They are placed at (6 cm, 0) and (0, 3 cm), respectively, from their initial infinite positions. A. Determine the electric potential due to the two charges at the origin. B. Determine the electric potential energy associated with the system, relative to their infinite initial positions.

Answer 1

a) V =10¹¹*(1.5q₁ + 3q₂)

b) U = 1.34*10¹¹q₁q₂

Step-by-step explanation:

Given

x₁ = 6 cm

y₁ = 0 cm

x₂ = 0 cm

y₂ = 3 cm

q₁ = unknown value in Coulomb

q₂ = unknown value in Coulomb

A) V₁ = Kq₁/r₁

where r₁ = √((6-0)²+(0-0)²)cm = 6 cm = 0.06 m

V₁ = 9*10⁹q₁/(0.06) = 1.5*10¹¹q₁

V₂ = Kq₂/r₂

where r₂ = √((0-0)²+(3-0)²)cm = 3 cm = 0.03 m

V₂ = 9*10⁹q₂/(0.03) = 3*10¹¹q₂

The electric potential due to the two charges at the origin is

V = ∑Vi = V₁ + V₂ = 1.5*10¹¹q₁ + 3*10¹¹q₂ = 10¹¹*(1.5q₁ + 3q₂)

B) The electric potential energy associated with the system, relative to their infinite initial positions, can be obtained as follows

U = Kq₁q₂/r₁₂

where

r₁₂ = √((0-6)²+(3-0)²)cm = √45 cm = 3√5 cm = (3√5/100) m

then

U = 9*10⁹q₁q₂/(3√5/100)

⇒ U = 1.34*10¹¹q₁q₂