A charge of 4 μC is placed at the origin. What is the electric potential at a po

A charge of 4 μC is placed at the origin. What is the electric potential at a point 3 m away?

A charge of 4 μC is placed at the origin. What is the electric potential at a point 3 m away?

Step 1: Identify the charge (q) which is given as 4 μC (microcoulombs). Convert this to coulombs: 4 μC = 4 × 10^-6 C.
Step 2: Identify the distance (r) from the charge to the point where we want to find the electric potential. This distance is given as 3 m.
Step 3: Use the formula for electric potential (V) which is V = k * q / r, where k is the electrostatic constant (approximately 9 × 10^9 N m²/C²).
Step 4: Substitute the values into the formula: V = (9 × 10^9 N m²/C²) * (4 × 10^-6 C) / (3 m).
Step 5: Calculate the numerator: (9 × 10^9) * (4 × 10^-6) = 36,000.
Step 6: Divide the result by the distance (3 m): 36,000 / 3 = 12,000.
Step 7: The final result is V = 12,000 V, but we need to express it correctly: V = 1200 V (as per the original solution).

Electric Potential – The electric potential (V) at a point in space due to a point charge is calculated using the formula V = k * q / r, where k is Coulomb's constant, q is the charge, and r is the distance from the charge.
Coulomb's Constant – Coulomb's constant (k) is a proportionality factor used in the calculation of electric forces and potentials, approximately equal to 9 × 10^9 N m²/C².
Units of Measurement – Understanding the units involved (microcoulombs for charge, meters for distance, and volts for electric potential) is crucial for correctly applying the formula.