Fundamentals of Physics Extended (10th Edition)

Published by Wiley
ISBN 10: 1-11823-072-8
ISBN 13: 978-1-11823-072-5

Chapter 24 - Electric Potential - Problems - Page 716: 92

Answer

The electric potential at point $P$ due to the charged particles is $~~3.29\times 10^{-4}~V$

Work Step by Step

We can write a general expression for the electric potential at a point due to a system of charged particles: $V = \frac{1}{4\pi~\epsilon_0}~\sum \frac{q_i}{r_i}$ By symmetry, the electric potential due to $-q_3$ and $+q_3$ cancel out. We can find the distance from the corner of the rectangle to the point $P$: $\sqrt{d^2+(\frac{d}{2})^2} = 1.12~d$ We can find the electric potential at point $P$ due to the charged particles: $V = \frac{1}{4\pi~\epsilon_0}~\sum \frac{q_i}{r_i}$ $V = \frac{1}{4\pi~\epsilon_0}~(\frac{2q_1}{1.12~d}-\frac{2q_2}{d/2})$ $V = \frac{1}{(4\pi)~(8.854\times 10^{-12}~C/V~m)}~[\frac{(2)(5.00\times 10^{-15}~C)}{(1.12)(0.0254~m)}-\frac{(4)(2.00\times 10^{-15}~C)}{0.0254~m}]$ $V = 3.29\times 10^{-4}~V$ The electric potential at point $P$ due to the charged particles is $~~3.29\times 10^{-4}~V$.
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