3 charges sit on vertical equilateral triangle the side of each is 30.0 cm. if the triangle are A= +4.0 uC B=+5.0 uC and C=+6.0 uC (clockwise from top) what is the force on each charge?

Can someone please explain me in detail i am really confuse :(((

OK. Lets walk through one. Consider the force on charge A. It has two components, which are vectors.

The force on A from C is kQaQc/distance^2, along the direction from C to A.

The force on A from B is
kQbQa/distance^2, along the direction from B to A

so you can calculate those two forces. Howver, they are not along the same direction, so have to be added as vectors, getting a resultant force.

So add these two forces by any of the following methods...
1. Graphically
2. Using the law of cosines (magnitude only) then the law of sines to figure the angle if you need it. Draw the figure carefully, all you need fodr these will be in the figure ...

3. By breaking each of the forces into a vertical, and hoizontal component, then adding.

Make certain you draw a figure, you have to have this in mind when computing.

physics - sara, Friday, August 17, 2012 at 10:45pm

How did you get F12 and F13 ??

F12 = k•q1•q2/a²=9•10^9•4•10^-6•5•10^-6/0.09=2 N
F13 = k•q1•q3/a² = 9•10^9•4•10^-6•6•10^-6/0.09=2.4 N

F(A) = sqrt(F12² + F13² - 2•F12•F13•cos 120º)=
=sqrt[4+5.76-2•2•2.4(-0.5)] =3.82 N

what is 5.76??

2.4²=5.76

To find the force on each charge, we can use Coulomb's Law, which states that the force between two charges is directly proportional to the product of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.

Let's break down the problem step by step:

Step 1: Calculate the distance between each pair of charges.
- The side length of the equilateral triangle is given as 30.0 cm.
- To find the distance between two neighboring charges, we can make use of trigonometry.
- Since it is an equilateral triangle, all sides are equal, and each angle is 60 degrees.
- The distance between any two charges will be the side length multiplied by the sine of 60 degrees.
- Therefore, the distance between any two neighboring charges is 30.0 cm * sin(60 degrees) = 30.0 cm * √(3)/2 = 15.0√(3) cm.

Step 2: Calculate the force between each pair of charges.
- Using Coulomb's Law, the magnitude of the force between two charges can be calculated using the formula: F = k * (q1 * q2) / r^2.
- Here, F represents the force, k is the electrostatic constant (9 x 10^9 N m^2/C^2), q1 and q2 are the charges, and r is the distance between the charges.
- For example, the force between charges A and B would be: F_AB = (9 x 10^9 N m^2/C^2) * (4.0 x 10^-6 C * 5.0 x 10^-6 C) / (15.0√(3) cm)^2.

Step 3: Calculate the direction of each force.
- Since charges A and B are positive, they repel each other, so the force between them is an outward force, away from the center of the triangle.
- Charges B and C are also positive, so they will repel each other.
- Charges C and A are positive as well, so they will repel each other.
- The direction of these forces can be thought of as "pushing" or "outward" forces, away from the center of the triangle.
- Note that since the problem specifies clockwise ordering of the charges, the forces will also be in the clockwise direction.

By following these steps for each pair of neighboring charges, you should be able to calculate the force on each charge in the equilateral triangle.