If two equal and opposite charges are present, at the shortest equidistant point between the charges, are the electric potential and electric field equal to zero?

Question

anonymous · Answer

More specifically, the charges are 30 and -30μC respectively.  The distance between the charges is 32cm.  The problem is asking for the electric potential and electric field at a point 16 cm away from one of the charges (the middle).

anonymous · Answer

That's called as a dipole.. You are half right..but before i tell you more.. tell me why you feel both field and potential at the centre are zero?

anonymous · Answer

I've figured it out now.  The net field is zero and the potential is the force of both charges.  Thanks for your help though!

anonymous · Answer

NO NONO.... thats wrong.. :-/

anonymous · Answer

Sorry, I might've written it wrong because I had already turned my homework in.  Would you mind clarifying/answering the question so I can close it?

anonymous · Answer

You see.. electric field is a vector quantity.. hence direction matters... direction of the field is always away from positive charge and towards negative charge.. and potential is a scalar concept.. potential due to positive charge is always a positive number and due to negative is just a negative number.. so you can add them up.. this should give enough clue to solve the problem!