A charge of -2 µC is placed in an electric field of 500 N/C. What is the direction of the force acting on the charge? (2023)
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
A charge of -2 µC is placed in an electric field of 500 N/C. What is the direction of the force acting on the charge? (2023)
Towards the positive charge
Away from the positive charge
No force
Depends on the field strength
The force on a negative charge is in the direction opposite to the electric field, hence towards the positive charge.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
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Q
Q: A charge of -2 µC is placed in an electric field of 500 N/C. What is the direction of the force acting on the charge? (2023)
Solution: The force on a negative charge is in the direction opposite to the electric field, hence towards the positive charge.
Steps: 4
Step 1: Identify the type of charge. In this case, the charge is -2 µC, which is a negative charge.
Step 2: Understand the electric field. The electric field is given as 500 N/C. This field has a direction, usually pointing away from positive charges and towards negative charges.
Step 3: Determine the direction of the force on the charge. The force on a negative charge acts in the opposite direction of the electric field.
Step 4: Conclude that since the electric field is pointing in a certain direction, the force on the negative charge will be pointing in the opposite direction.