Two point charges P = +25 C and Q = -16 C are placed 5 cm apart. Find the position of the point at which the resultant electric field is zero:

Step-by-step solution

Let the point where the electric field is zero be at a distance x from charge Q . Since the charges are of opposite signs, the null point lies outside the region between the charges, closer to the charge with the smaller magnitude ( Q ). Distance of the point from Q = x Distance of the point from P = x + 5 For the net electric field to be zero, the magnitudes of the electric fields due to both charges must be equal: k|P| (x+5)^2 = k|Q| x^2 Substituting the given values: k 25 (x+5)^2 = k 16 x^2 Taking the square roo