FIGURE 20-11
-Three point charges of -2.00 μC, +4.00 μC, and +6.00 μC are placed along the x-axis as shown in Figure 20-11. What is the electrical potential at point P due to these charges?

Question

FIGURE 20-11 
-Three point charges of -2.00 μC, +4.00 μC, and +6.00 μC are placed along the x-axis as shown in Figure 20-11. What is the electrical potential at point P due to these charges?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

To find the electrical potential at point P, we need to calculate the contribution of each charge and then sum them up. The electrical potential at point P due to a point charge q is given by:

V = k * q / r

where k is Coulomb's constant, q is the charge, and r is the distance between the charge and the point P.

The distance between point charges and P is the same for all three charges, and it is given as:

r = 0.20 m

Using this, we can calculate the contribution of each charge as follows:

For the charge of -2.00 μC:

V1 = k * (-2.00 μC) / 0.20 m = -90 × 10^6 V

For the charge of +4.00 μC:

V2 = k * (+4.00 μC) / 0.20 m = +181 × 10^6 V

For the charge of +6.00 μC:

V3 = k * (+6.00 μC) / 0.20 m = +272 × 10^6 V

The total electrical potential at point P due to all three charges is the sum of these individual potentials:

Vtotal = V1 + V2 + V3

= (-90 + 181 + 272) × 10^6 V

= +363 × 10^6 V

= +363 × 10^3 kV

= +363 kV

So the answer is B, +307 × 10^6 V.

FIGURE 20-11 -Three Point Charges of -2.00 μC, +4.00 μC, and +6.00