Home/Class 12/Physics/

# Question and Answer

## QuestionPhysicsClass 12

Two charges $$3\times 10^{-8}\;\text C$$ and $$-2\times 10^{-8}\;\text C$$  are located $$15\;\text{cm}$$  apart. At what point on the line joining the two charges is the electric potential zero? Take the potential at infinity to be zero.

## Answer

Let us take the origin $$O$$  at the location of the positive charge. The line joining the two charges is taken to be the $${x-}$$axis ; the negative charge is taken to be on the right side of the origin.
Let $$P$$  be the required point on the $${x -}$$axis  where the potentlal is zero.
If $$x$$  is the $${x -}$$coordinate of $$P,$$  obviously $$x$$ must be positive. $$($$There is no possibility of potential due to the two charges adding up to zero for $$x<0)$$ If $$x$$  lies between $$O$$  and $$A,$$  we have
$$\frac 1{4\pi \varepsilon _0}\left[\frac{3\times 10^{-6}}{x\times 10^{-2}}-\frac{2\times 10^{-8}}{\left(15-x\right)\times 10^{-2}}\right]=0$$
where $$x$$  is in $$\text{cm}$$ . That is.
$$\frac 3 x-\frac 2{15-x}=0$$
which gives $$x=9\;\text{cm}$$
If $$x$$  lies on the extended line $$\mathit{OA}$$ , the required condition is
$$\frac 3 x-\frac 2{x-15}=0$$
which gives   $$x=45\;\text{cm}$$
Thus, electric potential is zero at $$9\;\text{cm}$$  and $$45\;\text{cm}$$  away from the positive charge on the side of the negative charge. Note that the formula for potential used in the calculation required choosing potential to be zero at infinity.
To Keep Reading This Answer, Download the App
4.6
Review from Google Play
To Keep Reading This Answer, Download the App
4.6
Review from Google Play
Correct46
Incorrect0
Still Have Question?

Load More