Question

A charge of 8 mC is located at the origin. Calculate the work done in taking a small charge of −2 × 10⁻⁹ C from a point P (0, 0, 3 cm) to a point Q (0, 4 cm, 0), via a point R (0, 6 cm, 9 cm).

Answer 1

Charge located at the origin, q = 8 mC = 8 × 10⁻³ C

Magnitude of a small charge, which is taken from a point P to point R to point Q, q₁ = −2 × 10⁻⁹ C

All the points are represented in the given figure.

Point P is at a distance, d₁ = 3 cm, from the origin along the z-axis.

Point Q is at a distance, d₂ = 4 cm, from the origin along the y-axis.

Potential at point P, `"V"_1 = "q"/(4piin_0 xx "d"_1)`

Potential at point Q,`"V"_2 = "q"/(4piin_0 xx "d"_2)`

Work done (W) by the electrostatic force is independent of the path.

∴ `"W" = "q"_1 ["V"_2 - "V"_1]`

= `"q"_1["q"/(4piin_0"d"_2) - "q"/(4piin_0"d"_1)]`

= `("qq"_1)/(4piin_0) [1/"d"_2 - 1/"d"_1]` .......(1)

Where, `1/(4piin_0) = 9 xx 10^9  "N m"^2  "C"^-2`

∴ `"W" = 9 xx 10^9 xx 8 xx 10^-3 xx (-2 xx 10^-9)[1/0.04 - 1/0.03]`

= `-144 xx 10^-3 xx ((-25)/3)`

= 1.27 J

Therefore, work done during the process is 1.27 J.