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: 3c

Answer

$E_{net} \neq 0$

Work Step by Step

We can write a general equation for the net electric potential: $V_{net} = \frac{1}{4\pi~\epsilon_0}\sum \frac{q_i}{r_i}$ We can write a general equation for the net electric field: $E_{net} = \frac{1}{4\pi~\epsilon_0}\sum \frac{q_i}{r_i^2}$ Let's assume that $~~V_{net} = 0$ Then $~~\frac{q_1}{r_1} = -\frac{q_2}{r_2}$ Since $~~q_1 \neq -q_2$, we know that $~~r_1 \neq r_2$ Then $~~\frac{q_1}{r_1^2} \neq -\frac{q_2}{r_2^2}$ Then $~~E_{net} \neq 0$
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