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: 3d

Answer

In Pair (1) and Pair (2), there are infinitely many points off the axis at which $V_{net} = 0$

Work Step by Step

We can write a general equation for the net electric potential: $V_{net} = \frac{1}{4\pi~\epsilon_0}\sum \frac{q_i}{r_i}$ Pair (1): Let $d_1$ be the distance between a point and the $-2q$ charge. Let $d_2$ be the distance between a point and the $+6q$ charge. We can find $V_{net}$ at this point: $V_{net} = \frac{1}{4\pi~\epsilon_0}\sum \frac{q_i}{r_i}$ $V_{net} = \frac{1}{4\pi~\epsilon_0}(\frac{-2q}{d_1}+\frac{6q}{d_2})$ If $~~\frac{-2q}{d_1}+\frac{6q}{d_2} = 0~~$ then $~~V_{net} = 0$ If $~~d_2 = 3d_1~~$ then $~~V_{net} = 0$ There are infinitely many points off the axis such that $~~d_2 = 3d_1~~$ Pair (2): Let $d_1$ be the distance between a point and the $+3q$ charge. Let $d_2$ be the distance between a point and the $-4q$ charge. We can find $V_{net}$ at this point: $V_{net} = \frac{1}{4\pi~\epsilon_0}\sum \frac{q_i}{r_i}$ $V_{net} = \frac{1}{4\pi~\epsilon_0}(\frac{+3q}{d_1}-\frac{4q}{d_2})$ If $~~\frac{+3q}{d_1}-\frac{4q}{d_2} = 0~~$ then $~~V_{net} = 0$ If $~~d_2 = \frac{4d_1}{3}~~$ then $~~V_{net} = 0$ There are infinitely many points off the axis such that $~~d_2 = \frac{4d_1}{3}$ In Pair (3), $V_{net} \gt 0$ at all points since both charges are positive. In Pair (4), $V_{net} \lt 0$ at all points since both charges are negative. Therefore: In Pair (1) and Pair (2), there are infinitely many points off the axis at which $V_{net} = 0$
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