Two charges $5 \times 10^{-8} \; C$ and $-3 \times 10^{-8} \; C$ are located $16 \; cm$ apart. At what point$(s)$ on the line joining the two charges is the electric potential zero? Take the potential at infinity to be zero.

Vedclass pdf generator app on play store
Vedclass iOS app on app store
(N/A) Given charges are $q_{1} = 5 \times 10^{-8} \; C$ and $q_{2} = -3 \times 10^{-8} \; C$. The distance between them is $d = 16 \; cm = 0.16 \; m$.
Case $1$: Point $P$ is between the charges at a distance $r$ from $q_{1}$.
The potential $V$ at $P$ is given by $V = \frac{1}{4 \pi \varepsilon_{0}} \left( \frac{q_{1}}{r} + \frac{q_{2}}{d-r} \right)$.
Setting $V = 0$,we get $\frac{q_{1}}{r} = -\frac{q_{2}}{d-r}$.
Substituting values: $\frac{5 \times 10^{-8}}{r} = -\frac{-3 \times 10^{-8}}{0.16-r}$.
$5(0.16 - r) = 3r \Rightarrow 0.8 - 5r = 3r \Rightarrow 8r = 0.8 \Rightarrow r = 0.1 \; m = 10 \; cm$.
Case $2$: Point $P$ is outside the charges at a distance $s$ from $q_{1}$.
The potential $V$ at $P$ is given by $V = \frac{1}{4 \pi \varepsilon_{0}} \left( \frac{q_{1}}{s} + \frac{q_{2}}{s-d} \right)$.
Setting $V = 0$,we get $\frac{q_{1}}{s} = -\frac{q_{2}}{s-d}$.
Substituting values: $\frac{5 \times 10^{-8}}{s} = -\frac{-3 \times 10^{-8}}{s-0.16}$.
$5(s - 0.16) = 3s \Rightarrow 5s - 0.8 = 3s \Rightarrow 2s = 0.8 \Rightarrow s = 0.4 \; m = 40 \; cm$.
Thus,the potential is zero at $10 \; cm$ from the positive charge between the charges and at $40 \; cm$ from the positive charge outside the system.

Explore More

Similar Questions

Assertion $(A)$: The work done by the electrostatic force is zero when a point charge moves in a circular path around another charge.
Reason $(R)$: The dot product of force and displacement vectors gives work done.

What is the order of electric potential generated by a Van de Graaff generator?

The electric potentials at two points $P$ and $Q$ are $10 \ V$ and $-4 \ V$ respectively. The work done in moving $100$ electrons from $P$ to $Q$ is:

Define electrostatic potential energy.

Three concentric metallic shells $A, B$ and $C$ of radii $a, b$ and $c$ $(a < b < c)$ have surface charge densities $\sigma, -\sigma$ and $\sigma$ respectively. Find the potentials ${V_A}$ and ${V_B}$.

Difficult
View Solution

Vedclass Products

For Students

Vedclass Test Series

Mock tests in real JEE/NEET style with performance analysis. 5-day free trial.

Start Free Trial
For Teachers

Exam Paper Generator

Generate Set A/B/C/D exam papers from 7.5L+ questions in 2 minutes. 3 chapters free.

Try Free
For Institutes

Online Exam Module

Live online exams with unlimited students, 360° analytics & white-label branding.

See Demo