Chapter 21: Coulomb’s Law

PHY2049: Chapter 21 1
1. What is net force on central –q charge?

−q

PHY2049: Chapter 21 2
 Answer to Question #1
ÎThe central charge is surrounded on all sides by charges
that are equal and on opposite sides, so the forces cancel
each other.
ÎThe only exception is the +2q charge above the central
charge. Thus the net force on the central charge is
upward (attraction) with magnitude

2kq 2
F=
r2

PHY2049: Chapter 21 3
2. Rank by magnitude of force.
Assume charges are equally spaced.

PHY2049: Chapter 21 4
 Answer to Question #2
Î#3 has largest magnitude because all charges cause a
force in the same direction.
Î#4 has zero magnitude (smallest), because charges of
equal magnitude are located equal distances on opposite
sides.
Î#1 is second largest because outer charges cancel and
inner charges add.
Î#2 is third largest because inner charges cancel and outer
charges add.
ÎSo the ranking (smallest to largest) 4, 2, 1, 3

PHY2049: Chapter 21 5
3. What is magnitude and direction of
force on charge q > 0? Assume charges
are on perfect square of side L.

+Q −Q

x
q
+Q −Q

PHY2049: Chapter 21 6
 Answer to Question #3
ÎForces cancel in y direction, so only x component remains
(it is the same for all 4 charges)
kQq 4 2kQq
Fx = 4 × cos 45° =
( )
2 2
L/ 2 L

+Q −Q

G
x F
q
+Q −Q
PHY2049: Chapter 21 7
4. Where should one put a 3rd charge
so that it feels no net force?

PHY2049: Chapter 21 8
 Answer to Question #4
ÎLet’s just do (a). The others are very similar.
ÎThe third charge must be on the left side. At some
distance, the force from the +q charge (closer) will cancel
the force from the -3q charge (farther).
ÎLet the distance between the first two charges be called L
and +q be at x = 0. The position of the third charge is
defined as x, where x < 0. The forces on the third charge
can be written
kqq3 3kqq3
Fx = − + =0
x 2
( L − x) 2

x=−
L
=−
( 3 +1 ) L  −1.37 L
3 −1 2
PHY2049: Chapter 21 9
What is the location and magnitude of 3rd
charge where all three are in equilibrium?

PHY2049: Chapter 21 10
 Answer to Question #5
ÎWe see immediately that the 3rd charge must lie between
the charges, but closer to –q than to –3q (why?).
ÎLet the two charges be at x = 0 & L and let the 3rd charge
be at location x. Then Fx = 0 on the 3rd charge yields
3kqq3 kqq3 3L 3 − 3
Fx = − + =0 x= = L  0.634 L
x 2
( L − x) 2
3 +1 2
ÎNote that q3 must be opposite sign as q to make the other
charges be in equilibrium. To find q3, require Fx = 0 on the
1st charge from the other two charges
2
3kqq3 3kq 2 ⎛x⎞ 6−3 3
Fx = − =0 q3 = ⎜ ⎟ q = q  0.40q
x 2
L2 ⎝L⎠ 2

PHY2049: Chapter 21 11