Physics: Principles with Applications (7th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0-32162-592-7
ISBN 13: 978-0-32162-592-2

Chapter 16 - Electric Charge and Electric Field - General Problems - Page 472: 66

Answer

$E_{net}=\frac{2kQa}{(x^2+a^2)^{3/2}}$ in the negative y-direction.

Work Step by Step

The horizontal x components of the two fields will cancel each other at the point P. The net electric field is in the negative y direction. The charges are equal, so the net field is two times the y component of one of the electric field vectors. $$E_{net}=2Esin\theta=2\frac{kQ}{x^2+a^2}sin\theta$$ $$E_{net}=2\frac{kQ}{x^2+a^2}\frac{a}{(x^2+a^2)^{1/2}}$$ $$E_{net}=\frac{2kQa}{(x^2+a^2)^{3/2}}$$ Again, this points in the negative y-direction.
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