Answer: U = -4.97*10^-17 J
Step-by-step explanation:
Potential Energy of point charges,
U = kqq• / r, where
U = Potential Energy
q, q• = value of electric charges
k = 8.99*10^9 N.m²/C² constant of proportionality
r = distance between two charges
a) first electric potential due to electric field of first charge
q = 3*10^-9 C
q• = q(electron) = -1.602*10^-19 C
r = 0.5 * 31 cm = 15.5 cm = 0.155 m
U1 = kqq•/r
U1 = (8.99*10^9 * 3*10^-9 * -1.602*10^-19) / 0.155
U1 = -4.32*10^-18 / 0.155
U1 = -2.79*10^-17 J
Second electric potential due to electric field of second charge
U2 = kqq•/r
U2 = (8.99*10^9 * 1.8*10^-9 * -1.602*10^-19) / 0.155
U2 = -2.59*10^-18 / 0.155
U2 = -1.67*10^-17 J
U = U1 + U2
U = -2.79*10^-17 + -1.67*10^-17
U = -4.46*10^-17 J
b) first electric potential due to electric field of the first charge
q = 3*10^-9 C
q• = q(electron) = -1.602*10^-19 C
r = 10 cm = 0.1 m
U1 = kqq•/r
U1 = (8.99*10^9 * 3*10^-9 * -1.602*10^-19) / 0.1
U1 = -4.32*10^-18 / 0.1
U1 = -4.32*10^-17 J
Second electric potential to the electric field of second charge
q = 1.8*10^-9
q• = -1.602*10^-19 C
r = 50 - 10 = 40 cm = 0.4m
U2 = (8.99*10^9 * 1.8*10^-9 * -1.602*10^-19) / 0.4
U2 = -2.59*10^-18 / 0.4
U2 = -6.48*10^-18 J
U = U1 + U2
U = -4.32*10^-17 + -6.48*10^-18
U = -4.97*10^-17 J