A charge of +3μC is placed at the origin. What is the electric potential at a po

A charge of +3μC is placed at the origin. What is the electric potential at a point 0.5m away?

A charge of +3μC is placed at the origin. What is the electric potential at a point 0.5m away?

Step 1: Identify the charge (q) which is +3μC. Convert this to coulombs: +3μC = 3 × 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 0.5m.
Step 3: Use the formula for electric potential (V): 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) * (3 × 10^-6) / 0.5.
Step 5: Calculate the numerator: (9 × 10^9) * (3 × 10^-6) = 27,000.
Step 6: Divide the result by the distance (0.5): 27,000 / 0.5 = 54,000.
Step 7: Conclude that the electric potential at the point 0.5m away is 54,000 V.

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 approximately 9 × 10^9 N m²/C² and is used in calculations involving electric forces and potentials.
Units of Charge – Understanding the unit of charge (microcoulombs, μC) and its conversion to coulombs (C) is essential for accurate calculations.
Distance Measurement – The distance (r) must be measured in meters when using SI units in the electric potential formula.