If two charges +Q and -Q are placed at a distance 'd' apart, what is the electri
Practice Questions
Q1
If two charges +Q and -Q are placed at a distance 'd' apart, what is the electric field at the midpoint? (2020)
0
kQ/d^2
kQ/(2d^2)
kQ/d
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
If two charges +Q and -Q are placed at a distance 'd' apart, what is the electric field at the midpoint? (2020)
Step 1: Identify the two charges: +Q (positive charge) and -Q (negative charge).
Step 2: Determine the distance 'd' between the two charges.
Step 3: Find the midpoint between the two charges. This is the point that is equidistant from both +Q and -Q.
Step 4: Understand that electric fields are created by charges. The positive charge +Q creates an electric field that points away from it, while the negative charge -Q creates an electric field that points towards it.
Step 5: At the midpoint, the electric field from +Q points away from +Q, and the electric field from -Q points towards -Q.
Step 6: Since the midpoint is equidistant from both charges, the magnitudes of the electric fields from +Q and -Q are equal.
Step 7: Because the electric fields from +Q and -Q are equal in magnitude but opposite in direction, they cancel each other out.
Step 8: Conclude that the net electric field at the midpoint is 0.
