JenniferSmart1 Group Title Question: I solved the first part and I just need help understanding the second part. This will take me a a few min to write and draw....bear with me... one year ago one year ago

1. JenniferSmart1 Group Title

Point charges of $q_1=-5.00 \mu C$$q_2=+3.00 \mu C$$q_3=+5.00\mu C$ located on the x access at $x=-1.00cm$$x=0$$x=+1.00cm$respectively. I calculated $\vec{E}$ on the x axis atx=3.0cm and x=15.0cm and got: $\vec{E}_{p1}=(1.14\times10^8N/C)\hat{i}$ and $\vec{E}_{p1}=(1.74\times10^6N/C)\hat{i}$ Here is where I'm having trouble: ARe there any points on the x-axis where the magnitude of the electric field is zero? If so, where are those points?

2. JenniferSmart1 Group Title

@Luis_Rivera @phi

3. JenniferSmart1 Group Title

typo: I meant to write $\vec{E}_{p2}=(1.74\times10^6N/C)\hat{i}$

4. JenniferSmart1 Group Title

@Luis_Rivera I'll post the answer, can you help me understand it? I have the solution but I'm having a hard time understanding the concept

5. JenniferSmart1 Group Title

@Jemurray3

6. Jemurray3 Group Title

|dw:1360443203643:dw|

7. Jemurray3 Group Title

Think of it this way: if you were just slightly to the left of the particle at x = -1, the electric field would point to the right, correct?

8. JenniferSmart1 Group Title

correct

9. Jemurray3 Group Title

Now go a hundred billion miles to the left. The distances between the three would be almost zero, so you'd really only be able to see a single particle of charge -5 + 3 + 5 = 3. Does that argument make sense?

10. JenniferSmart1 Group Title

Yes, so we would see a particle of charge three. Oh so is $r\rightarrow \infty$?

11. Jemurray3 Group Title

No. The point of that is if you're close to the one at -1, then the field points to the right. If you're far away, the field points to the left, so there must be some point at which the field is zero.

12. JenniferSmart1 Group Title

I guess that kinda makes sense....where from here?

13. Jemurray3 Group Title

The fields from the three particles are: $E_1 = \frac{-5}{(x+1)^2}$ $E_2 = \frac{3}{x^2}$ $E_3 = \frac{5}{(x-1)^2}$ So the equation you should be solving is $E_{total} = E_1 + E_2 + E_3 = 0$

14. JenniferSmart1 Group Title

$E_1=\frac{q_1}{(x+1)^2}$ this means: the electric field due to a point charge from a positive test particle "x" located at a location (which I'm solving for) $E_{total} = E_1 + E_2 + E_3 = 0$ by solving for x, I've found a place on the x axis where the electric field due to all point charges is zero....

15. JenniferSmart1 Group Title

makes sense. THanks @Jemurray3 !

16. JenniferSmart1 Group Title

The positive and negative charges are bothering me...|dw:1360445236763:dw|

17. Jemurray3 Group Title

What's bothering you?

18. JenniferSmart1 Group Title

I Would've written this as: $-\frac{q_1}{(x-1)^2}-\frac{q_2}{x^2}-\frac{q_3}{(x+1)^2}=0$

19. JenniferSmart1 Group Title

because the charge on q_1 is negative

20. Jemurray3 Group Title

You must also take into account the direction the field is pointing. The field from the q_1 charge is to the right.

21. Jemurray3 Group Title

Generally speaking $\vec{F} = \frac{kQ}{r^2} \hat{r}$ So Q is negative, but that is compensated by the direction of r hat.

22. JenniferSmart1 Group Title

That explains the positive sign, what about the x_1 part? why do they have it as x-(-1)?

23. JenniferSmart1 Group Title

I mean the x-1 part

24. Jemurray3 Group Title

That is the distance between a point (x) and the point (-1).

25. JenniferSmart1 Group Title

which should be x-1 though. That doesn't make sense in practice...I think.... Ok let's see (I can't believe I'm struggling with simple arithmetic) $\triangle x=|x_2-x_1|$ so let's say our point is at x_2=-5 Oh I see....nevermind haha yep it's plus (+)

26. Jemurray3 Group Title

If you ever forget, just say "okay, so where is the distance zero?" and if it matches the location of the actual particle then you're good.

27. Jemurray3 Group Title

so (x+1) is zero at x=-1 , which is where the particle is.

28. JenniferSmart1 Group Title

yep, I'll remember that. Thanks again @Jemurray3 !!!