Electric Potential in a triangle

In summary, the electric potential at the point indicated with the dot, which is in the center of an equilateral triangle with sides of 3 cm, is calculated using the equation V= kq/r. By using a distance of 1.299 cm from the center point to the charges and plugging in the values for each point, we can determine the total electric potential. It is important to use -1 x 10^(-6) for the -1 μC charge in order to account for the cancelling effect of the negative charge on the positive charge. In other words, the potential from the negative charge tends to cancel out the potential from the positive charge.
  • #1
Zywo
10
0

Homework Statement



What is the electric potential at the point indicated with the dot in the figure?
The dot is in the center of an equilateral triangle with sides of 3 cm. The top point is a +2 uC charge and the bottom points are both -1 uC charges.

Homework Equations



V= kq/r

The Attempt at a Solution



I used 1.299 cm the distance from the center point to the charges. I then plugged in the values for each point and added them up. I DID however use +1 for the -1 uC charges because they add to the electric potential right?
 
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  • #2
You must use -1 x 10^(-6) for the -1 μC charge. The potential from the negative charge tends to cancel the potential from the positive charge. If you imagine the + and - charges slowly moving toward each other, the potential will not change suddenly when the charges contact and cancel each other out.
 

Related to Electric Potential in a triangle

What is electric potential in a triangle?

Electric potential in a triangle is a measure of the electric potential energy per unit charge at any point within a triangle. It is a scalar quantity and is expressed in volts (V).

How is electric potential in a triangle calculated?

The electric potential in a triangle can be calculated by dividing the electric potential energy by the charge at any point within the triangle. Mathematically, it can be expressed as V = U/Q, where V is the electric potential, U is the electric potential energy, and Q is the charge.

What factors affect the electric potential in a triangle?

The electric potential in a triangle is affected by the magnitude and distribution of charges within the triangle, the distance between charges, and the dielectric properties of the materials within the triangle.

How does the electric potential change as you move within a triangle?

The electric potential within a triangle can change as you move from one point to another. This change is dependent on the position of the charges within the triangle and the distance between them. The electric potential decreases as you move away from a positive charge and increases as you move away from a negative charge.

What are some real-life applications of electric potential in a triangle?

Electric potential in a triangle has numerous applications in our daily lives. It is used in electrical circuits, capacitors, and batteries. It is also used in the design and operation of electronic devices such as computers, smartphones, and televisions. Additionally, electric potential in a triangle is important in understanding the behavior of lightning and static electricity.

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