Exploring Coulomb's Law: Solving Problems with Electric Charges and Forces

In summary, the two charges in equilibrium are -Q and -3Q. The third charge must be placed in the positive y-direction to maintain equilibrium.
  • #1
physics231
3
0
I have a couple of Coulomb's Law problems.

1) A charge of 6.00 mC is placed at each corner of a square 0.100 m on each side. Determine the magnitude and direction of the force on each charge.

2) Two charges, -Q and -3Q (subscript 0 at the end of each Q),are a distance L apart. There two charges are free to move but do not because there is a third charge nearby. What must be the charge and placement of the third charge for the first two to be in equilibrium?

Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much
 
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  • #2
Please show what you've tried.
https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=94379
 
  • #3
physics231 said:
I have a couple of Coulomb's Law problems.

1) A charge of 6.00 mC is placed at each corner of a square 0.100 m on each side. Determine the magnitude and direction of the force on each charge.

2) Two charges, -Q and -3Q (subscript 0 at the end of each Q),are a distance L apart. There two charges are free to move but do not because there is a third charge nearby. What must be the charge and placement of the third charge for the first two to be in equilibrium?

Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much

Check your pm box. I can never understand why people will never help people and show them how to solve certain problems. You learn by being shown and then applying what you were given. You don't learn by spending hours trying to solve a problem. That time can be spent studying and or going over more problems so you can succeed.
 
  • #4
So you mean that "Einstein" should have asked someone about the photoelectric effect instead of wasting his whole life searching for it ?

That was the most useless advice ever!
 
  • #5
And for your question ... i can't solve it for you but yes some advide
for 1st, draw a big diagram (and please use a scale) and draw all the forces,

And find all net forces in a single plane, then find their net force!

------------

for second what do you think about the sign of charge?
 

FAQ: Exploring Coulomb's Law: Solving Problems with Electric Charges and Forces

What is Coulomb's Law?

Coulomb's Law is a fundamental law in physics that describes the force of attraction or repulsion between two charged particles. It states that the force is directly proportional to the product of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.

How do you calculate the force using Coulomb's Law?

The force between two charged particles can be calculated using the formula F = k(q1q2/r^2), where F is the force in Newtons, k is the Coulomb's constant (9x10^9 Nm^2/C^2), q1 and q2 are the charges of the particles in Coulombs, and r is the distance between them in meters.

What is the unit of charge used in Coulomb's Law?

The unit of charge used in Coulomb's Law is Coulomb (C). One Coulomb is equal to the charge of 6.24x10^18 protons or electrons.

Can Coulomb's Law be used for point charges only?

Yes, Coulomb's Law can only be used for point charges, which are particles with negligible size. It cannot be applied to charged objects with dimensions, as the force between them would vary at different points on the objects.

How does the distance between two charges affect the force according to Coulomb's Law?

According to Coulomb's Law, the force between two charges is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. This means that as the distance between the charges increases, the force decreases. Similarly, as the distance decreases, the force increases.

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