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Electric Charges And Fields

Question
CBSEENPH12037149

Four point charges qA = 2 μC, qB = – 5 μC, qc = 2 μC, and qD = –5 μC are located at the corners of a square ABCD of side 10 cm. What is the force on a charge of 1 μC placed at the centre of the square?

Solution
Suppose a square ABCD with each side of 10 cm and centre 0. At the centre, the charge of 1 μC is placed.
 

qD = -5 μCqC = 2 μCqA = 2 μCqB = -5μC

Applying Coulomb's law,
FOA=14π qO qAOA2 FOC= 14πqo qCOC2


As qA = qc and since OA=OC, the charge of 1 μC experiences equal and opposite forces FOA and FOc due to charges qA and qC.
That is,  FOA= - FOC
FOA+FOC =0

Similarly, the charge 1 μC experiences equal and opposite forces. FOB and FOD due to equal charges qB and qD at B and D.
Therefore, FOB + FOD = 0.

                Fnet = 0

Thus, the net force on charge of 1 μC due to all the given charges is zero.