Consider an oil droplet of mass m and charge q. We want to determine the charge on the droplet in a Millikan-type experiment. We will do this in several steps. Assume, for simplicity, that the charge is positive and that the electric field between the plates points upward. An electric field is established by applying a potential difference to the plates. It is found that a field of strength E₀ will cause the droplet to be suspended motionless. Write an expression for the droplet's charge in terms of the suspending field E₀ and the droplet's weight mg.
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Electric Field
Problem 48
Textbook Question
A point charge nC is at the point m, m, and a second point charge nC is at the point m, . Calculate the magnitude and direction of the net electric field at the origin due to these two point charges.

1
Identify the positions of the charges: q1 = -4.00 nC is at (0.600 m, 0.800 m) and q2 = +6.00 nC is at (0.600 m, 0). The origin is at (0, 0).
Calculate the distance from each charge to the origin using the distance formula: \( r = \sqrt{(x_2 - x_1)^2 + (y_2 - y_1)^2} \). For q1, the distance is \( r_1 = \sqrt{(0.600)^2 + (0.800)^2} \). For q2, the distance is \( r_2 = 0.600 \) m.
Use Coulomb's Law to find the electric field due to each charge at the origin. The electric field \( E \) due to a point charge is given by \( E = \frac{k |q|}{r^2} \), where \( k \) is Coulomb's constant \( 8.99 \times 10^9 \text{ N m}^2/\text{C}^2 \). Calculate \( E_1 \) for q1 and \( E_2 \) for q2.
Determine the direction of each electric field vector. The electric field due to a negative charge points towards the charge, while the field due to a positive charge points away. For q1, the field points towards (0.600 m, 0.800 m), and for q2, it points away from (0.600 m, 0).
Calculate the net electric field at the origin by vector addition of \( E_1 \) and \( E_2 \). Break each electric field into components, sum the components, and use the Pythagorean theorem to find the magnitude of the resultant vector. Use trigonometry to find the direction of the net electric field.

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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Electric Field Due to a Point Charge
The electric field (E) created by a point charge (q) at a distance (r) is given by Coulomb's law: E = k|q|/r², where k is Coulomb's constant. The direction of the field is radially outward from a positive charge and inward towards a negative charge. This concept helps determine the individual electric fields at the origin due to each charge.
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Electric Field due to a Point Charge
Superposition Principle
The superposition principle states that the net electric field due to multiple charges is the vector sum of the electric fields produced by each charge independently. This principle is crucial for calculating the net electric field at the origin by adding the contributions from both q1 and q2, considering their magnitudes and directions.
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Superposition of Sinusoidal Wave Functions
Vector Addition
Vector addition involves combining vectors by adding their corresponding components. For electric fields, this means summing the x and y components separately to find the resultant vector. This concept is essential for determining the magnitude and direction of the net electric field at the origin from the individual fields of q1 and q2.
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Vector Addition By Components
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