Point charges q1 = +2.00 µC and q2 = -2.00 µC are placed

Problem 17E

Point charges q1 = +2.00  and q2 = -2.00  are placed at adjacent corners of a square for which the length of each side is 3.00 cm. Point a is at the center of the square, and point b is at the empty corner closest to q2. Take the electric potential to be zero at a distance far from both charges. (a) What is the electric potential at point a due to q1 and q2? (b) What is the electric potential at point b? (c) A point charge q3 = -5.00  moves from point a to point b. How much work is done on q3 by the electric forces exerted by q1 and q2? Is this work positive or negative?

                                                             Step by Step Solution

Step 1 of 3

Let's draw a diagram first:

(a)  Electric potential due to q1 and q2 at “a”

The using equation for superposition theorem of electric potential for point charges:

From the figure, it is clear that:

Therefore the potential due to the two charges at point “a” is 0V.