Three charges, Q1, Q2, and Q3 are located in a straight line. The position of Q2

Question

Three charges, Q1, Q2, and Q3 are located in a straight line. The position of Q2 is 0.246 m to the right of Q1. Q3 is located 0.136 m to the right of Q2. The force on Q2 due to its interaction with Q3 is directed to the

Incorrect: left if the two charges have opposite signs.
Correct: left if the two charges are negative.
Incorrect: right if the two charges are negative.
Correct: left if the two charges are positive.
Correct: right if the two charges have opposite signs.


In the above problem, Q1 = 1.22

Explanation / Answer

You just need to find the location where the total force is zero. The positive charge pushes in one direction and the negative charge pulls in the opposite direction. You just need to set the two forces equal to each other and solve for the distance from Q1 and the distance for Q2. That's 2 unknowns that we have to solve for, so that means that we need two equations to solve for both of them. Use a force balance equation for the first equation and an equation relating the distance from Q1 and the distance from Q2 (hint: you know they are .279 m apart). Solve the system of equations for r1 and r2 (distances from q1 and q2 respectively) and that's your answer. If you already knew all this, just go back and do your algebra again carefully. I'm not going to do it for you because it's hard and I'm not getting paid or taking the class :)

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