Two charges +q and -q are placed at a distance d apart. Where is the electric field zero?
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
Two charges +q and -q are placed at a distance d apart. Where is the electric field zero?
At the midpoint
Closer to +q
Closer to -q
At infinity
The electric field is zero at a point closer to -q because the magnitudes of the fields due to both charges will be equal at that point.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
1 item
Q
Q: Two charges +q and -q are placed at a distance d apart. Where is the electric field zero?
Solution: The electric field is zero at a point closer to -q because the magnitudes of the fields due to both charges will be equal at that point.
Steps: 7
Step 1: Understand that we have two charges: one positive charge (+q) and one negative charge (-q).
Step 2: Recognize that the electric field created by a positive charge points away from the charge, while the electric field created by a negative charge points towards the charge.
Step 3: Since the charges are opposite, there will be a point in between them where the electric fields from both charges will cancel each other out.
Step 4: The electric field from the positive charge (+q) decreases with distance, while the electric field from the negative charge (-q) also decreases with distance but is directed towards the charge.
Step 5: To find the point where the electric field is zero, we need to find a location where the strength of the electric field from +q equals the strength of the electric field from -q.
Step 6: This point will be closer to the negative charge (-q) because the electric field from the positive charge decreases faster as you move away from it.
Step 7: Therefore, the electric field is zero at a point that is closer to the negative charge (-q).
