Question

Physics, charged triangle.
 Three point charges have equal magnitudes, two being positive and one negative. These charges are fixed to the corners of an equilateral triangle, as the drawing shows. The magnitude of each of the charges is 3.92 μC, and the lengths of the sides of a triangle are 5.56 cm. Calculate the magnitude of the net force that each charge experiences.

Accepted Answer

The figure is below. All the forces represented with thin lines are equal in module. The electric field lines exits the positive charges and enters the negative charge. Thus the direction of forces are (see the figure)
F_(12) =F_(21)= k_e*q^2/R^2=9*10^9*3.92^2*10^-12/0.0556= 2.4874 N 
away from charges 1 and 2, on the 12 line
F_(13)=F_(23) = k_e*q^2/R^2 =2.4874 N ,
away from charges 1 and 2 towards 3
F_31 =F_32=k_e*q^2/R^2 =2.4874 N ,
away from charge 3 towards 1 and 2
Now the resultant forces on charges 1, 2 and 3 are (see the law of cosine in a triangle)
F_1 = sqrt(F_12^2+F_13^2-2*F_12*F_13*cos(60)) =2.4874 N
F2 =F1 =2.4874 N by symmetry arguments
F_3 =sqrt(F_(31)^2 +F_(32)^2-2*F_31*F_32*cos(120)) =4.3083 N

F_1 and F_2 make an angle of 60 degree with the horizontal and F3 is downwards.

Science Questions and Answers

Expert Answers info

Unlock This Answer Now

Related Questions

Ask a Question

Popular Questions