Electricity: Static Electricity

Static Electricity: Audio Guided Solution

Extra Problem 17:

Four charges are placed in a square. There is a 3.0-micro-coulomb charge placed at the (0 cm, 0 cm) mark, a 6.0-micro-coulomb charge placed at the (0 cm, 4 cm) mark, a 3.0-micro-coulomb charge placed at the (4 cm, 4 cm) mark, and an 8.0-micro-coulomb charge placed at the (4 cm, 0cm) mark. Determine the magnitude of the electric field (in Newtons/Coulomb) in the center of the square. 
 



 

Audio Guided Solution




Habits of an Effective Problem Solver

An effective problem solver by habit approaches a physics problem in a manner that reflects a collection of disciplined habits. An effective problem-solver...

  • ... reads the problem carefully and develop a mental picture of the physical situation. If necessary, sketches a simple diagram of the physical situation to help you visualize it.
  • ... identifies the known and unknown quantities; records them in an organized manner. A diagram is a great place to record such information. Equates given values to the symbols used to represent the corresponding quantity - e.g., Q1 = 2.4 μC; Q2 = 3.8 μC; d = 1.8 m; Felect = ???.
  • ... uses physics formulas and conceptual reasoning to plot a strategy to solve for the unknown quantity.
  • ... identifies the appropriate formula(s) to use.
  • ... performs substitutions and algebraic manipulations in order to solve for the unknown quantity.

 

Read About It!

The following pages from The Physics Classroom Tutorial may serve to be useful in assisting you in the understanding of the concepts and mathematics associated with these problems.


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