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A point charge is placed at each corner of square with side leanth a. The charges all have same magnitude q. My question, What is the its magnitude in terms of q and a?

User Drawoc
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1 Answer

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Answer:

E = k q / a² (1.3535) (- i ^ + j ^)

E = k q / a² 1.914 , θ’= 135

Step-by-step explanation:

For this exercise we will use Newton's second law where we must add as vectors

E_total = E₁₂ i ^ + E₁₄ j ^ + E₁₃

Let's look for the value of each term

On the x axis

E₁₂ = k q / a²

On the y axis

E₁₄ = k q / a²

For the charge in the opposite corner we look for the distance

d = √ (a² + a²) = a √2

let's look for the field

E₁₃ = k q / d²

E₁₃ = k q / 2a²

let's use trigonometry to find the two components of this field

cos 45 = E₁₃ₓ / E₁₃

E₁₃ₓ = E₁₃ cos 45

sin 45 = E_{13y} / E₁₃

E_{13y} = E₁₃ sin 45

E₁₃ₓ = k q / 2a² cos 45

E_{13y} = k q / 2a² sin 45

let's find each component of the electric field

X axis

Eₓ = -E₁₂ - E₁₃ₓ

Eₓ = - k q / a² - k q / 2a² cos 45

Eₓ = - k q / a² (1 + cos 45/2)

cos 45 = sin 45 = 0.707

Eₓ = - k q / a² (1 + 0.707 / 2)

Eₓ = - k q / a² (1.3535)

Y axis

E_y = E₁₄ + E_{13y}

E_y = k q / a² + k q / 2a² sin 45

E_y = k q / a² (1 + sin 45/2)

E_y = k q / a² (1.3535)

we can give the results in two ways

E = k q / a² (1.3535) (- i ^ + j ^)

In modulus and angle form, let's use Pythagoras' theorem for the angle

E = √ (Eₓ² + E_y²)

E = k q / a² 1.3535 √2

E = k q / a² 1.914

we use trigonometry for the angle

tan θ = E_y / Eₓ

θ = tan⁻¹ (E_y / Eₓ)

θ = tan⁻¹ (1 / -1)

θ = 45

in the third quadrant, if we measure the angle of the positive side of the x-axis

θ‘= 90 + 45

θ’= 135

User Bhushan Dhamdhere
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