Is My Coulomb's Law Calculation Correct?

In summary, the problem involves finding the distance between two charges using Coulomb's Law. The solution involves setting two equations equal to each other and solving for the distance, but there may be a simple error that needs to be corrected. Drawing a picture and carefully labeling the forces on the third charge can help in solving the problem correctly.
  • #1
ForrestFire
4
0

Homework Statement



http://i.imgur.com/ITrJq.png

Homework Equations



F=kq1q2/r^2 (Coulomb's Law)

The Attempt at a Solution

Whenever I try to get the answer, I keep coming up with 15.47cm.

I found the Coulomb's law for the third particle in relation to the other two, then set those equations to each other. This let me cancel out k and the charge of the third particle, since it wasn't given in the first place. After that it was a simple algebraic solve to find the distance.

But I feel like I'm missing something big, so I'm here for some assistance.

Thanks so much ahead of time! You guys have saved me before. It's only worth one point, which is basically nothing, but I really need to know how to do this.
 
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  • #2
I tried the problem, thought I had it but made a simple error, one you might be making. If you draw a picture, you might think why bother, and carefully label the forces on the third charge at some point x between the charges you might get it. Note that the forces on the third charge either both act to the left or both act to the right.

Good luck!
 

FAQ: Is My Coulomb's Law Calculation Correct?

What is Coulomb's Law?

Coulomb's Law is a fundamental law of electromagnetism that describes the force 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 * (q1 * q2)/r^2, where F is the force, k is the Coulomb's constant, q1 and q2 are the charges of the particles, and r is the distance between them.

What are the units of Coulomb's constant?

The units of Coulomb's constant depend on the system of units being used. In SI units, the units of Coulomb's constant are N * m^2/C^2, where N is newtons, m is meters, and C is coulombs. In cgs units, the units are dyn * cm^2/esu^2, where dyn is dynes, cm is centimeters, and esu is electrostatic units.

Can Coulomb's Law be used to calculate the force between more than two charged particles?

Yes, Coulomb's Law can be extended to calculate the force between multiple charged particles. The net force on a particle is the vector sum of the individual forces it experiences due to all other particles.

What are some real-life applications of Coulomb's Law?

Coulomb's Law has many practical applications, such as in the design of electronic devices, understanding the behavior of atoms and molecules, and in the study of electric fields and forces in nature. It is also used in industries such as telecommunications, energy, and aerospace engineering.

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