Hint: There are potentials from three single point charges, which have to be add

Question

Hint: There are potentials from three single point charges, which have to be added. Draw a careful picture, use the geometry to figure out the relevant distances. (Remember that voltages can be positive or negative!)

Let's consider once again the water molecule with two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. Since the oxygen atom has a higher electronegativity than the hydrogen atom, the side of the molecule with the oxygen atom has a partial negative charge. Assume that the partial negative charge on the oxygen atom is Q1 = -1.104 x 10-19 C, the angle at the oxygen atom is = 104.2o and the distance between the oxygen and the hydrogen atoms is d = 94.4 x 10-9 m. What is the potential at the midpoint between the two hydrogen atoms? Hint: There are potentials from three single point charges, which have to be added. Draw a careful picture, use the geometry to figure out the relevant distances. (Remember that voltages can be positive or negative!)

Explanation / Answer

v=kq/r

=9x10^9(2*1.104x10^-19/(2*94.4x10^-9*sin(52.1)-1.04x10^-19/94.4x10^-9cos(52.1))

=9x19^9*1.104x10^-19/94.4x10^-9(1/sin(52.1)-1/cos(52.1))

= - 3.796 x 10^-3 volts

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