172. Two point charges, $q_1 = 5 \, \mu C$ and $q_2 = -5 \, \mu C$, are placed at coordinates $(0, 2, 0)$ and $(0, -2, 0)$ respectively. Calculate the magnitude of the electric field at the origin.
Key Concept: Electric Field, Superposition Principle
a) $0 \, \text{N/C}$
[Solution Description]
The electric field $\vec{E}$ at any point due to a point charge $q$ is given by:
$\vec{E} = \frac{k_e q}{r^2} \hat{r}$
First, calculate the electric field due to $q_1$ at the origin:
$r_{q_1} = 2 \text{ m}, \quad \hat{r}_{q_1} = \left(\frac{0-0}{2}, \frac{0-2}{2}, 0\right) = (0, -1, 0)$
$\vec{E}_{q_1} = \frac{k_e \cdot 5 \times 10^{-6}}{2^2} (0, -1, 0) = \frac{8.99 \times 10^9 \cdot 5 \times 10^{-6}}{4}(0, -1, 0)$
Then, calculate the electric field due to $q_2$ at the origin:
$r_{q_2} = 2 \text{ m}, \quad \hat{r}_{q_2} = \left(\frac{0-0}{2}, \frac{0+2}{2}, 0\right) = (0, 1, 0)$
$\vec{E}_{q_2} = \frac{k_e \cdot (-5) \times 10^{-6}}{2^2} (0, 1, 0) = \frac{-8.99 \times 10^9 \cdot 5 \times 10^{-6}}{4}(0, 1, 0)$
Using superposition, the net electric field $\vec{E}$ at the origin is:
$\vec{E} = \vec{E}_{q_1} + \vec{E}_{q_2} = (0, -11.24\times 10^3, 0) + (0, -11.24 \times 10^3, 0)$
Thus, both fields cancel out each other, resulting in zero net electric field:
$|\vec{E}| = 0 \, \text{N/C}$
Your Answer is correct.
a) $0 \, \text{N/C}$
[Solution Description]
The electric field $\vec{E}$ at any point due to a point charge $q$ is given by:
$\vec{E} = \frac{k_e q}{r^2} \hat{r}$
First, calculate the electric field due to $q_1$ at the origin:
$r_{q_1} = 2 \text{ m}, \quad \hat{r}_{q_1} = \left(\frac{0-0}{2}, \frac{0-2}{2}, 0\right) = (0, -1, 0)$
$\vec{E}_{q_1} = \frac{k_e \cdot 5 \times 10^{-6}}{2^2} (0, -1, 0) = \frac{8.99 \times 10^9 \cdot 5 \times 10^{-6}}{4}(0, -1, 0)$
Then, calculate the electric field due to $q_2$ at the origin:
$r_{q_2} = 2 \text{ m}, \quad \hat{r}_{q_2} = \left(\frac{0-0}{2}, \frac{0+2}{2}, 0\right) = (0, 1, 0)$
$\vec{E}_{q_2} = \frac{k_e \cdot (-5) \times 10^{-6}}{2^2} (0, 1, 0) = \frac{-8.99 \times 10^9 \cdot 5 \times 10^{-6}}{4}(0, 1, 0)$
Using superposition, the net electric field $\vec{E}$ at the origin is:
$\vec{E} = \vec{E}_{q_1} + \vec{E}_{q_2} = (0, -11.24\times 10^3, 0) + (0, -11.24 \times 10^3, 0)$
Thus, both fields cancel out each other, resulting in zero net electric field:
$|\vec{E}| = 0 \, \text{N/C}$