Example: a positive charge Q1 = +Q is located a distance d

along the y-axis from the origin. A second positive charge

Q2 = +Q is located at the origin and a negative charge Q3 = -2Q
is located on the x-axis a distance 2d away from Q1. Calculate
the net electrostatic force on Q1 due to the other two charges.
y

Q1=+Q

d
2d

Q2=+Q Q3=-2Q x
Calculate the net electrostatic force on Q1 due to the other two
charges.
  
y F  F2  F3

 q1q 2 ˆ  +Q   +Q  ˆ Q 2 ˆ
F2  k 2 j  k 2
jk 2 j
F2 r12 d d

Q1=+Q F3  F3x ˆi  F3y ˆj

F3 
d
2d F3  F3 cos ˆi  F3 sin ˆj

Q2=+Q x  q1q 3 q1q 3
Q3=-2Q F3  k 2 cos i  k 2 sin ˆj
ˆ
q1q 2 r13 r13
F12 = k 2
r12   +Q   -2Q  3 ˆ  +Q   -2Q  1 ˆ
1 3 F3  k i  k j
 2d   2d 
2 2
sin   cos  2 2
2 2
Note: F2 and F3 are not drawn to scale (F3 is “too long”).
Calculate the net electrostatic force on Q1 due to the other two
charges.

y   +Q   -2Q  3 ˆ  +Q   -2Q  1 ˆ
F3  k i  k j
 2d   2d 
2 2
2 2

F2  2Q 2 3 ˆ 2Q 2 1 ˆ
F3  k i  k j
Q1=+Q
4d 2 2 4d 2 2

F3  3 kQ 2 ˆ 1 kQ 2 ˆ
d F3  i  j
2d 2 2
4 d 4 d

Q2=+Q Q3=-2Q x    Q2 ˆ 3 kQ 2 ˆ 1 kQ 2 ˆ
F  F2  F3  k 2 j+ i  j
q1q 2 d 4 d2 4 d2
F12 = k 2
r12
1 3  3 kQ 2 ˆ 3 kQ 2 ˆ
sin   cos  F i  j
2 2 4 d 2
4 d 2

Note: F2 and F3 are not drawn to scale (F3 is “too long”).

Comments:

Once you have become an expert at problems like this, you can
combine and perhaps even skip some steps.

Skipping steps on work to be graded is not recommended!

You may express your answer in unit vector notation, as on the

previous slide.
3 kQ 2 3 kQ 2
Or you may write Fx  2
 Fy  2

4 d 4 d

You may also express your answer as a magnitude and

direction.

All three of the above ways of writing F completely specify the

vector.
 y

F2
F
Q1=+Q

F3
d
2d

Q2=+Q Q3=-2Q x

If Q1 were free to move, what direction would its initial

acceleration be? How would I calculate the acceleration?

Would the acceleration remain constant as Q1 moved? Could I

use the equations of kinematics (remember them from Physics
1135?) to describe the motion of Q1?