A point charge of +3 C is located at the origin of a coordinate system and a second point charge of -6 C is at x = 1.0 m. At what point on the x-axis is the electrical potential zero?

Respuesta :

Answer:

The point at which the electrical potential is zero is x = +0.33 m.

Explanation:

By definition the electrical potential is:

[tex] V_{E} = \frac{K*q}{r} [/tex]

Where:

K: is Coulomb's constant = 9x10⁹ N*m²/C²

q: is the charge

r: is the distance

The point at which the electrical potential is zero can be calculated as follows:

[tex] V_{1} + V_{2} = 0 [/tex]

[tex] K(\frac{q_{1}}{r_{1}} + \frac{q_{2}}{r_{2}}) = 0 [/tex]    (1)

q₁ is the first charge = +3 mC

r₁ is the distance from the point to the first charge  

q₂ is the first charge = -6 mC

r₂ is the distance from the point to the second charge    

By replacing r₁ = 1 - r₂ into equation (1) we have:

[tex]K(\frac{q_{1}}{1 - r_{2}} + \frac{q_{2}}{r_{2}}) = 0[/tex]   (2)

By solving equation (2) for r₂:

[tex]r_{2} = \frac{q_{1}}{q_{1} - q_{2}} = \frac{3 mC}{3 mC - (-6 mC)} = +0.33 m[/tex]

                 

Therefore, the point at which the electrical potential is zero is x = +0.33 m.

I hope it helps you!  

Since the two charges are placed on the x-axis. Then, the electric potential is zero at the distance of 0.66 m from the second point charge on the x-axis.

What is electric potential?

The electric potential at any point is the amount of work needed to move a unit positive charge from infinity to that point.

Given data-

The magnitude of a point charge is, Q = + 3 C.

The magnitude of the second point charge is, Q' = -6 C.

The distance between the two charges is, x = 1.0 m.

The expression for the net electric potential due to both the charges is,

[tex]V = \dfrac{k \times Q}{x} +\dfrac{k \times Q'}{x-y}[/tex]

here,

k is the Coulomb's constant.

y is the distance from the second point charge on the x-axis, where the net potential is zero.

Now, for zero net electric potential due to both the charges we have,

[tex]0 = \dfrac{k \times Q}{x-y} +\dfrac{k \times Q'}{y}\\\\\\-\dfrac{k \times Q'}{y}=\dfrac{k \times Q}{x-y}[/tex]

Solving as,

[tex]-\dfrac{(-6)}{y}=\dfrac{3}{1-y}\\\\6-6y=3y\\\\y =0.66\;\rm m[/tex]

Thus, we can conclude that the electric potential is zero at the distance of 0.66 m from the second point charge on the x-axis.

Learn more about the electric potential here:

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