Four point charges q₁ = 2 μC, qв = -5 μC, qc = -5 μC and q=2 μC, are located at the corners of a square ABCD of side 10 cm. What is the force on a charge of 1 µC placed at the center of the square ?
Answers
Explanation:
The given figure shows a square of side 10 cm with four charges placed at its corners. O is the centre of the square.
Where,
(Sides) AB=BC=CD=AD=10cm
(Diagonals) AC=BD=10
2
cm
AO=OC=DO=OB=5
2
cm
A charge of amount 1μC is placed at point O.
Force of repulsion between charges placed at corner A and centre O is equal in magnitude but opposite in direction relative to the force of repulsion between the charges placed at corner C and centre O. Hence, they will cancel each other. Similarly, force of attraction between charges placed at corner B and centre O is equal in magnitude but opposite in direction relative to the force of attraction between the charges placed at corner D and centre O. Hence, they will also cancel each other. Therefore, net force caused by the four charges placed at the corner of the square on 1μC charge at centre O is zero.