- #1
Sean1218
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A scalar like electric potential.
Say I have a positive charge, and 4m to the right, and 3m up is a point P.
If I wanted to calculate the potential at point P, I'd use V=kQ/r (r=√(4^2 + 3^2)).
But I'm confused about why finding the potential at 4m to the right (the x component), and the potential at 3m above the charge (y component) and using c=√(x^2 + y^2) wouldn't give the same answer.
And I realize that this isn't independent for scalars, because doing this to find electric field would be wrong as well.
Say I have a positive charge, and 4m to the right, and 3m up is a point P.
If I wanted to calculate the potential at point P, I'd use V=kQ/r (r=√(4^2 + 3^2)).
But I'm confused about why finding the potential at 4m to the right (the x component), and the potential at 3m above the charge (y component) and using c=√(x^2 + y^2) wouldn't give the same answer.
And I realize that this isn't independent for scalars, because doing this to find electric field would be wrong as well.
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