Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance – Solutions

1) Two charges 5×10^-8 C and -3 x 10^-8 C are located 16 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.

Solution:

According to the problem:

q₁ = 5 x 10^-8 C, (first charge)

q₂ = -3 x 10^-8 C (second charge)

Let r₁ = x meter, (x = distance of null point from 1^st charge)

r₂ = (0.16 –x) meter (Distance of point from 2^nd charge)

According to the question the potential at the point on the line joining two charges is zero.

V₁ + V₂ = 0 (where, V₁ = potential due to first charge, V₂ = potential due to second charge)