How would I answer this question about charges?

Given q_1=2q_2=3q_3=4nCq1=2q2=3q3=4nC, and each charge is 1 cm1cm away from the origin, what is the electric field magnitude at the origin?

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1 Answer
Mar 7, 2018

E_o = (2397.33) \hatx \ "V/m" +(1798)\haty \ "V/m"

Explanation:

Electric Field: E = k(q)/(r^2)

We simply sum the fields of the three charges at the origin.

Charge q1: E_1 = k(q_1)/r^2
Charge q2: E_2 = k(q_2)/r^2
Charge q3: E_3 = k(q_3)/r^2

The field at the origin: E_(o) = E_1 + E_2 + E_3
when r_1=r_2=r_3=1 cm and q_1=2q_2=3q_3=4 nC.

E_o = k(((4xx10^(-9))/(1xx10^(-2))-(4/3xx10^(-9))/(1xx10^(-2)))\hatx+ (2xx10^(-9))/(1xx10^(-2))\haty)

E_o = (8.99xx10^(9)) (((4xx10^(-9))/(1xx10^(-2))-(4/3xx10^(-9))/(1xx10^(-2)))\hatx+ (2xx10^(-9))/(1xx10^(-2))\haty)

E_o = (8.99xx10^(9)) (((4xx10^(-7))-(4/3xx10^(-7)))\hatx+(2xx10^(-7))\haty)

E_o = (8.99xx10^(9)) ((8/3xx10^(-7))\hatx+(2xx10^(-7))\haty)

E_o = (2397.33)\hatx \ "V/m" + (1798)\haty \ "V/m"