Could anyone help me understand this problem? Point P is midway between the two charges. http://i.imgur.com/RG8BA.jpg Find the electric field in the plane of the page (a) 5.0 cm directly above P. The answer is 5.2*10^-6 N/C. I was trying to solve it using E=kq/r^2 = E = k[(-2*10^-6C)/[(sqrt(-0.025^2+0.059^2))]*5/5.59+2*10^-6C)/[(sqrt(0.025^2+0.059^2))]*5/5.59] I dont get the right answer and would like to know why my setup does not work. I'm particularly interested in understanding if I got the signs right. Thanks so much!

Question

Could anyone help me understand this problem? Point P is midway between the two charges. http://i.imgur.com/RG8BA.jpg Find the electric field in the plane of the page (a) 5.0 cm directly above P. The answer is 5.2*10^-6 N/C. I was trying to solve it using E=kq/r^2 => E = k[(-2*10^-6C)/[(sqrt(-0.025^2+0.059^2))]*5/5.59+2*10^-6C)/[(sqrt(0.025^2+0.059^2))]*5/5.59] I dont get the right answer and would like to know why my setup does not work. I'm particularly interested in understanding if I got the signs right. Thanks so much!

anonymous · Answer

what is the final answer did you get?

ghazi · Answer

for the +20uC direction of electric field will be to the right...and for -20uC it will be to the right of -20uC charge...and net electric field will be...1.44*10^8..kindly correct your answer...|dw:1344013047874:dw| E1 is to the right that is electric field due to charge +20uC and also electric field in negative charge is inwards it will be to the right therefore net electric field will be added...