Question

Two point charges q_A = 3 μC and q_B = −3 μC are located 20 cm apart in vacuum.

(a) What is the electric field at the midpoint O of the line AB joining the two charges?

(b) If a negative test charge of magnitude 1.5 × 10⁻⁹ C is placed at this point, what is the force experienced by the test charge?

Answer 1

(a) The situation is represented in the given figure. O is the mid-point of line AB.

Distance between the two charges, AB = 20 cm

∴AO = OB = 10 cm

Net electric field at point O = E

Electric field at point O caused by +3μC charge,

E₁ = along OB

Where,

= Permittivity of free space

Magnitude of electric field at point O caused by −3μC charge,

E₂ = = along OB

= 5.4 × 10⁶ N/C along OB

Therefore, the electric field at mid-point O is 5.4 × 10⁶ N C⁻¹ along OB.

(b) A test charge of amount 1.5 × 10⁻⁹ C is placed at mid-point O.

q = 1.5 × 10⁻⁹ C

Force experienced by the test charge = F

∴F = qE

= 1.5 × 10⁻⁹ × 5.4 × 10⁶

= 8.1 × 10⁻³ N

The force is directed along line OA. This is because the negative test charge is repelled by the charge placed at point B but attracted towards point A.

Therefore, the force experienced by the test charge is 8.1 × 10⁻³ N along OA.