Coulomb's law for the magnitude of the force FFF between two particles with charges QQQ and Q′Q′Q^\prime separated by a distance ddd is

|F|=K|QQ′|d2|F|=K|QQ′|d2,

where K=14πϵ0K=14πϵ0, and ϵ0=8.854×10−12C2/(N⋅m2)ϵ0=8.854×10− 12C2/(N⋅m2) is the permittivity of free space.

Consider two point charges located on the x axis: one charge, q1q1q_1 = -15.0 nCnC , is located at x1x1x_1 = -1.660 mm ; the second charge, q2q2q_2 = 34.5 nCnC , is at the origin (x=0.0000)(x=0.0000).

What is the net force exerted by these two charges on a third charge q3q3q_3 = 47.0 nCnC placed between q1q1q_1 and q2q2q_2 at x3x3x_3 = -1.240 mm ?

Your answer may be positive or negative, depending on the direction of the force.

Explanation:

Force between two charges of q₁ and q₂ at distance d is given by the expression

F = k q₁ q₂ / d₂

Here force between charge q₁ = - 15 x 10⁻⁹ C and q₃ = 47 x 10⁻⁹ C when distance between them d = (1.66 - 1.24 ) = .42 mm

k = 1/ 4π x 8.85 x 10⁻¹²

putting the values in the expression

F = 1/ 4π x 8.85 x 10⁻¹²  x - 15 x 10⁻⁹ x 47 x 10⁻⁹ /( .42 x 10⁻³)²

= 9 x 10⁹ x  - 15 x 10⁻⁹ x 47 x 10⁻⁹ /( .42 x 10⁻³)²

= 35969.4 x 10⁻³ N .

force between charge q₂ =  34.5 x 10⁻⁹ C and q₃ = 47 x 10⁻⁹ C when distance between them d = ( 1.24 - 0 ) = 1.24 mm .

putting the values in the expression

F = 1/ 4π x 8.85 x 10⁻¹²  x  34.5 x 10⁻⁹ x 47 x 10⁻⁹ /( .42 x 10⁻³)²

= 9 x 10⁹ x  - 34.5 x 10⁻⁹ x 47 x 10⁻⁹ /( .42 x 10⁻³)²

= 82729.6  x 10⁻³ N

Both these forces will act in the same direction towards the left (away from the origin towards - ve x axis)

Total force = 118699 x 10⁻³

= 118.7 N.

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