If two charges +Q and -Q are placed at a distance 'd' apart, what is the electri

₹0.0

Question: If two charges +Q and -Q are placed at a distance \'d\' apart, what is the electric field at the midpoint? (2020)

Options:

Correct Answer: 0

Exam Year: 2020

Solution:

At the midpoint, the electric fields due to +Q and -Q cancel each other out, resulting in a net electric field of 0.

If two charges +Q and -Q are placed at a distance 'd' apart, what is the electric field at the midpoint? (2020)

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.

Electric Field – The electric field is a vector field around charged particles that exerts a force on other charges placed within the field.
Superposition Principle – The total electric field at a point is the vector sum of the electric fields due to individual charges.
Midpoint Analysis – At the midpoint between two equal and opposite charges, the electric fields produced by each charge are equal in magnitude but opposite in direction.