Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach with Modern Physics (3rd Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321740904
ISBN 13: 978-0-32174-090-8

Chapter 28 - The Electric Potential - Exercises and Problems - Page 834: 26

Answer

$10\;\rm nC$

Work Step by Step

We know that the net potential is the sum of the potentials due to each charge at the needed dot. Let's assume that $q_1=q$, $q_2=-5$ nC which is the upper to the right one, and $q_3=5$ nC which is the lower to the left one. $$V_{net}=V_{\rm 4nC}+V_{\rm 2nC,right}+V_{\rm 2nC,left}$$ $$V_{net}=\dfrac{kq_1}{r_1}+\dfrac{kq_2}{r_2}+\dfrac{kq_3}{r_3}$$ Solving for $q_1$, $$\dfrac{kq_1}{r_1} =V_{net}-\dfrac{kq_2}{r_2}-\dfrac{kq_3}{r_3}$$ $$ q_1 =r_1\left[\dfrac{V_{net}}{k}-\dfrac{ q_2}{r_2}-\dfrac{ q_3}{r_3}\right]$$ Plug the known from the given figure, $$q =\left(\sqrt{0.02^2+0.04^2}\right)\left[\dfrac{3140}{9\times 10^9}-\dfrac{ -5\times 10^{-9}}{0.04}-\dfrac{ 5\times 10^{-9}}{0.02}\right]$$ $$q=\color{red}{\bf 10}\;\rm nC$$
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