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

Three concentric metallic spherical shells $A, B,$ and $C$ of radii $a, b,$ and $c$ $(a < b < c)$ have surface charge densities $-\sigma, +\sigma,$ and $-\sigma$ respectively. The potential of shell $A$ is:

Difficult
View Solution

Three concentric charged metallic spherical shells $A$,$B$,and $C$ have radii $a$,$b$,and $c$ (where $a < b < c$) and surface charge densities $+\sigma$,$-\sigma$,and $+\sigma$ respectively. The potential $V_A$ at the surface of shell $A$ is ($\epsilon_0$ = permittivity of free space).

$A$ charge of $10\, e.s.u.$ is placed at a distance of $2\, cm$ from a charge of $40\, e.s.u.$ and $4\, cm$ from another charge of $20\, e.s.u.$ The potential energy of the charge $10\, e.s.u.$ is (in $ergs$)

The minimum work needed to be done to bring a charge $q=6 \mu C$ from $\infty$ to a point $0.75 \ m$ from a charge $Q=30 \mu C$ is (in $J$)

$A$ charge $+q$ is fixed at each of the points $x = x_0, x = 3x_0, x = 5x_0, \dots$ up to $\infty$ on the $X$-axis and a charge $-q$ is fixed at each of the points $x = 2x_0, x = 4x_0, x = 6x_0, \dots$ up to $\infty$. Here $x_0$ is a positive constant. Taking the potential at a point due to a charge $Q$ at a distance $r$ from it to be $\frac{Q}{4\pi\varepsilon_0 r}$,find the potential at the origin due to the above system of charges.

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