Several Charges
Part of the Electricity and Magnetism section of Coddy's Physics journey. Lesson 3 of 51.
With several charges around it, a charge feels each force as if the others were not there. Their sum is the net force.
Draw each force, choose axes and add the parts along each: the sums are F_x and F_y. The size of the net force:
F = √(Fₓ² + F_y²)
Challenge
Three small positive charges: q₃ = 1 μC at a corner, q₁ = 4 μC a distance 0.3 m to its left, and q₂ = 3 μC 0.3 m below it. How big is the net electric force F on q₃?
Try it yourself
Test yourselfThis lesson includes a short quiz. Start the lesson to answer it and track your progress.
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