Not always. What else does the force of attraction depend on?jegues said:
Doc Al said:
Yes. Now combine those two factors to see which arrangements can meet the criteria.jegues said:
Doc Al said:
Sure. In order for the net force on the electron to be zero, what must be the relative size of F_1 and F_2? In which configurations is that not possible?jegues said:
Doc Al said:
That doesn't matter. (But you can assume that if you like.)jegues said:
All we care about is the net force on the electron. Compare the force on the electron from each of the two charges. Hint: In some cases the force from one charge will always be greater than the force from the other, for an electron placed to the left.
Doc Al said:
Right!jegues said:
The Point of Equilibrium between two charges, also known as the electric potential, is the point where the net force on a small positive test charge is zero. At this point, the electric potential energy of the test charge is at its lowest and it remains stable.
The Point of Equilibrium can be calculated using Coulomb's Law, which states that the electric force between two charges is directly proportional to the product of the two charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.
No, the Point of Equilibrium can be anywhere between the two charges, depending on the magnitude and distance between them. If the two charges are of equal magnitude, the Point of Equilibrium will be in the middle. However, if one charge is larger than the other, the Point of Equilibrium will be closer to the larger charge.
The Point of Equilibrium is the point where the electric field is zero. This means that the electric field lines are evenly distributed around the two charges, with equal strength and in opposite directions.
Yes, the Point of Equilibrium can change if the magnitude or distance of the two charges changes. It can also be affected by the presence of other charges in the surrounding area, as they can alter the electric field and the Point of Equilibrium.
