Yahoo Answers is shutting down on May 4th, 2021 (Eastern Time) and beginning April 20th, 2021 (Eastern Time) the Yahoo Answers website will be in read-only mode. There will be no changes to other Yahoo properties or services, or your Yahoo account. You can find more information about the Yahoo Answers shutdown and how to download your data on this help page.

Mike asked in Science & MathematicsPhysics · 7 years ago

Three identical point charges in an equilateral triangle.?

Q = +3uC

What are the magnitude and direction of the net electric force on the charge in the lower left side. The side of the triangle is 0.1 m.

1 Answer

Relevance
  • 7 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    here is a similar Q/A, just plug in the numbers

    Question: Three equal charges are placed at the corners of an equilateral triangle. What is the force on each?

    Ans: The forces on each are equal from symmetry and are pointing directly away from the midpoint of the opposite side. D is the length of a side of the triangle.

    The Force from one charge to either of the others is

    F = kQ²/D²

    From symmetry, the force is on a line bisecting the opposite side. The components orthogonal to that line cancel, so the net force from each is

    F = (1/√2)kQ²/D² = (√2/2)kQ²/D²

    Adding the forces from the two charges, that is

    F = (√2)kQ²/D²

    Coulomb's law, force of attraction/repulsion

    F = kQ₁Q₂/r²

    Q₁ and Q₂ are the charges in coulombs

    r is separation in meters

    k = 8.99e9 Nm²/C²

Still have questions? Get your answers by asking now.