Point charges +5.1 μC and -2.3 μC are placed on the x axis at (18 m , 0) and (-18 m , 0), respectively.

Question

A)There is one point on the x axis between the two charges where the potential vanishes. Is this point closer to the +5.1 μC charge or closer to the -2.3 μC charge?

B)Find the point referred to in part A.

Answer 1

C'mon Lexi M.,

What is the equation for force between two charges, based on the charges and the distance between? All you NEED from that equation is the "distance between" information, is it to the ^-1 or ^-2 power? (The reason I suggest trying to remember that is that the force is likely to be one of these, but the potential energy of the field is likely to be the other.) So use that info to solve parts (a) AND (b). Note something useful to remember: a point of zero potential is not necessarily a point at which a charge will experience no net force!

-- Cheers, --Mr. d.