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 - Questions - Page 709: 3b

Answer

There are no pairs with a point to the right of the particles at which $V_{net} = 0$

Work Step by Step

We can write a general equation for the net electric potential: $V_{net} = \frac{1}{4\pi~\epsilon_0}\sum \frac{q_i}{r_i}$ Arrangement (1): Choose any point to the right of the two particles. Let $d_1$ be the distance between the point and the $-2q$ charge. Let $d_2$ be the distance between the point and the $+6q$ charge. Note that $d_1 \gt d_2$ We can find an expression for $V_{net}$ at this point: $V_{net} = \frac{1}{4\pi~\epsilon_0}\sum \frac{q_i}{r_i}$ $V_{net} = \frac{1}{4\pi~\epsilon_0}(\frac{-2q}{d_1}+\frac{6q}{d_2})$ $V_{net} \gt 0$ Arrangement (2): Choose any point to the right of the two particles. Let $d_1$ be the distance between the point and the $+3q$ charge. Let $d_2$ be the distance between the point and the $-4q$ charge. Note that $d_1 \gt d_2$ We can find an expression for $V_{net}$ at this point: $V_{net} = \frac{1}{4\pi~\epsilon_0}\sum \frac{q_i}{r_i}$ $V_{net} = \frac{1}{4\pi~\epsilon_0}(\frac{+3q}{d_1}-\frac{4q}{d_2})$ $V_{net} \lt 0$ In Arrangement (3), $V_{net} \gt 0$ at all points since both charges are positive. In Arrangement (4), $V_{net} \lt 0$ at all points since both charges are negative. Therefore: There are no pairs with a point to the right of the particles at which $V_{net} = 0$
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