Question 13 Marks
Two electric charges $+Q$ and $-Q(x-y)$ are placed at the points $\left(-x_2, 0\right)$ and $\left(x_1, 0\right)$ respectively in the plane. Find the magnitude and direction of the resultant electric field at the origin $(0,0)$.
Answer
View full question & answer→The positions of the given charges are shown in the figure. The magnitude of the original point intensity $\overrightarrow{ E _1}$ due to $+Q$ charge at point $O$.
$ E_1=\frac{1}{4 \pi \epsilon_0}\left(\frac{Q}{x_2^2}\right) $
Similarly, due to the charge ( $-Q$ ) located at point B , the origin is at O . The magnitude of the electric field intensity $\overrightarrow{ E _2}$.
$ E_2=\frac{1}{4 \pi \epsilon_0}\left(\frac{Q_1}{x_1^2}\right) $
Since $\vec{E}_1$ and $\vec{E}_2$ both have the same direction, hence the magnitude of the resultant electric field $\overrightarrow{ E }$ at O is
$E=E_1+E_2$
$=\frac{ l }{4 \pi \epsilon_0}\left(\frac{ Q }{x_2^2}\right)+\frac{1}{4 \pi \epsilon_0}\left(\frac{ Q }{x_1^2}\right)$
$=\frac{ Q }{4 \pi \epsilon_0}\left[\frac{1}{x_2^2}+\frac{1}{x_1^2}\right]$
or $E =\frac{ Q }{4 \pi \epsilon_0}\left[\frac{1}{x_1^2}+\frac{1}{x_2^2}\right]$ (Direction from O to B )

$ E_1=\frac{1}{4 \pi \epsilon_0}\left(\frac{Q}{x_2^2}\right) $
Similarly, due to the charge ( $-Q$ ) located at point B , the origin is at O . The magnitude of the electric field intensity $\overrightarrow{ E _2}$.
$ E_2=\frac{1}{4 \pi \epsilon_0}\left(\frac{Q_1}{x_1^2}\right) $
Since $\vec{E}_1$ and $\vec{E}_2$ both have the same direction, hence the magnitude of the resultant electric field $\overrightarrow{ E }$ at O is
$E=E_1+E_2$
$=\frac{ l }{4 \pi \epsilon_0}\left(\frac{ Q }{x_2^2}\right)+\frac{1}{4 \pi \epsilon_0}\left(\frac{ Q }{x_1^2}\right)$
$=\frac{ Q }{4 \pi \epsilon_0}\left[\frac{1}{x_2^2}+\frac{1}{x_1^2}\right]$
or $E =\frac{ Q }{4 \pi \epsilon_0}\left[\frac{1}{x_1^2}+\frac{1}{x_2^2}\right]$ (Direction from O to B )




