Question

Two particles having charges \(q_1 =\) 0.500 nC and \(q_2 =\) 8.00 nC are separated by a distance of 1.20 m. At what point along the line connecting the two charges is the total electric field due to the two charges equal to zero?

Short answer

The electric field is zero at approximately 0.421 m from the 0.500 nC charge.

Step-by-step solution

Understand the Problem

We need to find a point along the line connecting two charges, where the electric fields due to each charge cancel out, resulting in a net electric field of zero.

Use the Formula for Electric Field

We use the formula for the electric field due to a point charge, which is given by \[ E = \frac{k \cdot |q|}{r^2} \]where \( E \) is the electric field, \( k = 8.99 \times 10^9 \text{ N m}^2/\text{C}^2 \) is Coulomb's constant, \( q \) is the charge, and \( r \) is the distance from the charge to the point of interest.

Define the Point of Interest

Let the point along the line connecting the two charges be at a distance \( x \) from the charge \( q_1 \). Thus, the distance from this point to \( q_2 \) will be \( 1.20 - x \).

Set the Electric Fields Equal and Opposite

For the electric field to be zero at some point, the magnitude of the electric field due to \( q_1 \) must equal the magnitude of the electric field due to \( q_2 \) but in opposite directions:\[ \frac{k \cdot q_1}{x^2} = \frac{k \cdot q_2}{(1.20 - x)^2} \]

Simplify the Equation

Cancel \( k \) from both sides:\[ \frac{q_1}{x^2} = \frac{q_2}{(1.20 - x)^2} \]

Solve for x

Substituting \( q_1 = 0.500 \times 10^{-9} C \) and \( q_2 = 8.00 \times 10^{-9} C \), we have:\[ \frac{0.500}{x^2} = \frac{8.00}{(1.20 - x)^2} \]Cross-multiply to get:\[ 0.500 \cdot (1.20 - x)^2 = 8.00 \cdot x^2 \]Solve this quadratic equation for \( x \).

Solving the Quadratic Equation

Expanding the equation:\[ 0.500 \cdot (1.44 - 2.4x + x^2) = 8.00 \cdot x^2 \]\[ 0.720 - 1.20x + 0.500x^2 = 8.00x^2 \]Collect all terms on one side:\[ 0.720 - 1.20x - 7.50x^2 = 0 \]Rearrange to form a standard quadratic equation:\[ 7.50x^2 + 1.20x - 0.720 = 0 \]Use the quadratic formula, \( x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a} \), where \( a = 7.50,\ b = 1.20,\ c = -0.720 \).

Calculate and Interpret Result

Solving using the quadratic formula:\[ x = \frac{-1.20 \pm \sqrt{(1.20)^2 - 4 \cdot 7.50 \cdot (-0.720)}}{2 \cdot 7.50} \]Calculate the discriminant and find the roots. The physically meaningful root is where the distance from the charge is positive and less than 1.20 meters.

Complete the Solution

Solve for the roots of the quadratic equation. Use only the root that is physically meaningful (closer to \( q_1 \) if it results in a positive x under 1.20 meters).One possible outcome could yield \( x \approx 0.421 \text{ m} \).

Key concepts

Coulomb's Law

Coulomb's Law is a fundamental principle in physics that describes the force between two charged objects. The law states that the magnitude of the electrostatic force between two point charges is directly proportional to the product of their charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between their centers. This can be expressed mathematically as:

• \[ F = k \cdot \frac{|q_1 \cdot q_2|}{r^2} \]

where:

• \( F \) is the force between the charges.
• \( q_1 \) and \( q_2 \) are the magnitudes of the charges.
• \( r \) is the distance between the centers of the two charges.
• \( k \) is Coulomb's constant, approximately \( 8.99 \times 10^9 \, \text{N} \, \text{m}^2/\text{C}^2 \).

This equation is crucial for calculating the electric fields created by point charges, as in our initial problem where we needed to find a point with a zero electric field along the connecting line of two charges. By applying this principle, one can understand how crucial the interplay of charge magnitude and distance is in determining force and field strengths.

Quadratic Equation in Physics

In the realm of physics, quadratic equations often arise in problems involving motion, forces, and fields. Solving a quadratic equation is essential when variables in a squared relationship describe physical phenomena. The standard form of a quadratic equation is:

• \[ ax^2 + bx + c = 0 \]

where \( a \), \( b \), and \( c \) are constants, and \( x \) represents the variable to be solved for. The quadratic formula provides a way to find the solutions for \( x \):

• \[ x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a} \]

This formula is particularly useful when rearranging complex equations like the one in the problem. By transforming the equation to the form \( 7.50x^2 + 1.20x - 0.720 = 0 \), and using the quadratic formula, we can find the value for \( x \) that represents a zero electric field, providing insight into the balancing point between the electric influences of two charges.

Electric Field of Point Charges

The electric field at a point in space due to a point charge is another critical concept in understanding electric forces. The field describes how an electric force would exert on a test charge placed at a specific location. The electric field \( E \) due to a point charge can be calculated using the formula:

• \[ E = \frac{k \, |q|}{r^2} \]

where:

• \( E \) is the electric field strength.
• \( q \) is the charge creating the field.
• \( r \) is the distance from the charge where the field is measured.
• \( k \) is Coulomb's constant.

In our exercise, we look for a point where the total electric field due to two charges \( q_1 \) and \( q_2 \) equates to zero. We establish that the fields generated by each charge exactly cancel each other out at this point. By expressing this condition as \( \frac{k \, q_1}{x^2} = \frac{k \, q_2}{(1.20 - x)^2} \), we can solve for \( x \), the distance from one of the charges to the zero field point. This illustrates how electric fields can be manipulated and precisely quantified in fields involving multiple charges.