Solutions

1. a)
(9x 109 x 4x10− 6 x 3x 10− 6)
∣F 12∣=
b) 0.2 2

F 12= 2.7 N (along+ x direction)

(9x 109 x 4x10− 6 x 7x 10− 6)

∣F 13∣=
0.352

F 13= 2.1 N (along− x direction)

c) F = F 12+ F 13

= (2.7 – 2.1) N
= 0.6 N ( along + x)
q
the net force on 1 is 0.6 N and points in the +ve x-direction.

(9x10 9 x 1x10− 6 x 9x 10− 6)

(k q1 q 2)
∣F∣=
2. r2 = 0.52 = 0.324 N
Force is attractive and is as shown

b)

q should be further away from the larger charge (why?) . For net force on q to be zero,

∣F 1∣= ∣F 2∣

∣(
(k q q 1)
x 2 ∣∣
)= (
( k q q2 )
( x+ 0.5)2 ∣
)

( x+ 0.5)2 q 2
=
x2 q1 = 9

( x+ 0.5)
=±3
x
 0.5 + x =± 3x

0.5 = - 4x hence x = - 0.5/4 = 1-12.5 cm

or
0.5 = 2x therefore x = 0.5/2 =25cm
-12.5cm is the correct answer.

3.
From the diagram
Tcos θ = mg ----(1)
(k q1 q2 )
∣F c∣= 2
Tsin θ = r – -(2)

( 9x109 x 0.6x10− 6 x 0.9x10− 6)

F c=
0.152

= 0.216 N -------(3)

Using equation (1), (2) and (3)

Tsinθ 0.216 tan θ = 0.216
=
(T cos θ ) ( mg) (8x10− 2 x 10) = 0.27 ; θ = 15.1 °

4. BP = CP = AP

BD 1
30°= = 1.155
BP =
cos 0.866

( 0.3x10− 3 x 0.2 x10 − 3 )

∣( F B )∣= 9x10
9

1.1552 = 404.8 N along PE

 ( 0.3 x 10− 3 x 0.2 x 10− 3 )
∣F c∣= 9x 10
9
= 404.8 N along PG
1.1552

Resultant Force F at P is
F = F c cos60+ F B cos60= 404.8[2 cos 60]= 404.8 x 2x 0.5= 404.8 N along PA

b) For a charge at P to be in equilibrium, charge at A should exert a

force along AP to cancel F and hence the charge at A should be positive.
(Q x 0.2 x 10− 3)
∣F A∣= k = 404.8 N −3
1.1552 Which gives Q= 0.3 x 10 C

This value can even be predicted from symmetry.

5.

( 9 x 109 x 2 x 10− 6 x 2 x 10− 6 )

∣F B∣= = 0.4 N along AB
0.3 2

(9x109 x 2 x 10− 6 x 2 x 10− 6 )

∣F C∣= = 0.2 N along CA
0.182

(2 x 10− 6 x 2 x 10− 6 )
∣F D∣= 9 x 10
9
= 0.4N along AD
0.32

Force x-component y-component

FB 0.4 N 0

FC -0.2cos45 0.2sin45

FD 0 -0.4 N
 F X = 0.26 N F Y = − 0.26 N

EMBED opendocument.MathDocument.1 F = √(( F x ) + (F Y ) )= 0.37 N

2 2
θ =