Question

what is the electric potential at the centre of a triangle shown in figure

Answer 1

Given: Three charges q1 = q2 = 4 μC and q3 = -4 μC, side of equilateral triangle is 20 cm.

To find: What is the electric potential at the centre of a triangle?

Solution:

• Now we have given the side as 20 cm.

• The centroid of the equilateral triangle is at distance side/√3 times the given side.

• So:

                  centroid = 20/√3

• The potential is: kq/r

• The potential at centroid is:

                  k(4)/ 20/√3  +  k(4)/ 20/√3  +  k(-4)/ 20/√3

                  √3k / 5 + √3k / 5 - √3k / 5

                  √3k / 5

Answer:

            So the potential at centre of the triangle is √3k / 5.