In part (a) of the figure, particle 1 (of charge q 1 ) and particle 2 (of charge

Question

In part (a) of the figure, particle 1 (of charge q1) and particle 2 (of charge q2) are fixed in place on an x axis, 4.00 cm apart. Particle 3 (of charge q3 = +8.00 × 10-19 C) is to be placed on the line between particles 1 and 2 so that they produce a net electrostatic force on it. In part (b) of the figure below gives the x component of that force versus the coordinate x at which particle 3 is placed. The scale of the x axis is set by xs = 4.00 cm. What are (a) the sign of charge q1 and (b) the ratio q2/q1?

Explanation / Answer

The graph indicates that Fnet = 0 when x = 2 cm. Since F = k*q1*q2/d², we have
k*q1*q3 / (2cm)² = k*q2*q3 / (6cm)². After simplifying, we have
q1/4 = q2/36
q2/q1 = 36/4 = 9/1 = 9 : 1

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