Physics Technology Update (4th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0-32190-308-0
ISBN 13: 978-0-32190-308-2

Chapter 19 - Electric Charges, Forces, and Fields - Conceptual Questions - Page 682: 12

Answer

The electric field of this system is nonzero. It would become zero only in the case that the two charges touch ($d=0$), neutralizing each other.

Work Step by Step

The electric field is the force per charge at a given location in space. $\vec{\mathrm{E}}$ points in the direction of the force experienced by a positive test charge. The electric field a distance $r$ from a point charge $q$ has a magnitude given by $\mathrm{E} =k\displaystyle \frac{|q|}{r^{2}}$ At any point in space surrounding these two charges, there are nonzero components of the electric field vector. At some points the components may cancel, but this is a special case, where fields point in opposite directions. In the general case, the components of the field act at angles to each other, so a net field vector exists. The electric field of this system is nonzero. It would become zero only in the case that the two charges touch ($d=0$), neutralizing each other.
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