A positive charge q is placed on the y -axis at the location y = a. Another posi

Question

A positive charge q is placed on the y -axis at the location y = a. Another positive charge is placed on the y -axis at the location y = -a. Which of the following statements about the electric field at point P is correct? A.) Because of symmetry, there is no x-component to the electric field B.) Because of symmetry, there is no y-component to the electric field C.) Even though there is symmetry, there are still both x- and y-components to the electric field D.) There is no symmetry to this problem

Explanation / Answer

Since electric field is vector quantity, we can resolve in x and y component. Since in the given diagram there is symmetry about x axis, so the electric field y component of charge at y=+a and y component of charge at y=-a nullify each other.

So due to symmetry there is no y- component to the electric field.

Option B is correct.

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