The size of the electric field force in A = 150 N/C and in B = 100 N/C. What's the size of the charges Q1 and Q2? Thank you!

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1 Answer
Nov 8, 2017

This is what I get

Explanation:

We know that Electric field vecE is defined as the electric force produced at a distance R, per unit charge. The direction of the electric field is the direction of the force charge Q would exert on a positive test charge.

vecE=(kQ)/R^2
where for air k~~9.0 xx 10^9 Nm^2C^-2

Let direction Q_1->Q_2 be positive x-axis.

Both Charges are shown as positive. Setting up the equation for electric field at A using SI units

vecE_A=[(kQ_1)/(0.1)^2-(kQ_2)/(0.2)^2]hati=150hat iNC^-1

Multiplying both sides with (0.2)^2 to remove fraction from denominators and equating magnitudes we get

(0.2)^2[(kQ_1)/(0.1)^2-(kQ_2)/(0.2)^2=150]
=>k(4Q_1-Q_2)=6
=>4Q_1-Q_2=6/k .......(1)

Similarly for point B

vecE_B=[(kQ_1)/(0.2)^2-(kQ_2)/(0.1)^2]hati=-100hat iNC^-1

Multiplying both sides with (0.2)^2 to remove fraction from denominators and equating magnitudes we get

(0.2)^2[(kQ_1)/(0.2)^2-(kQ_2)/(0.1)^2=-100]
=>k(Q_1-4Q_2)=-4
=>Q_1-4Q_2=-4/k .......(2)

Multiplying (2) with 4 and subtracting from (1) we get

4Q_1-Q_2-4xx(Q_1-4Q_2)=6/k-(4xx(-4/k))
=>15Q_2=22/k
=>Q_2=22/(15k)

Inserting value of k

=>Q_2=22/(15xx9xx10^9)=1.63xx10^-10C, rounded to two decimal places.

from (2)

Q_1=4Q_2-4/k

Inserting value of Q_2 we get

Q_1=4xx(22/(15k))-4/k
=>Q_1=88/(15k)-4/k
=>Q_1=28/(15k)

Inserting value of k

Q_1=28/(15xx9xx10^9)
=>Q_1=2.07xx10^-10C, rounded to two decimal places.