1.

Two charges -q and +q are located at points (0,0-a) and (0,0-a), respectively. (a) What is the electrostatic potential at the points (0,0,z) and (x,y,0) ? (b) Obtain the dependence of potential on the distance r of a point from the origin when r//a gt gt1. (c) How much work is done in moving a small test charge from the point (5,0,0) to (-7,0,0) along the x-axis? Does the answer change if the path of the test charge between the same points is not along the x-axis ?

Answer»

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Solution :Here - q is at (0,0 -a) and + q is at (0,0 a)
(a) Potential at (0,0,z) would be
`V = (1)/(4 pi epsilon_(0)) ((-q)/(z + a)) + (1)/(4 pi epsilon_(0)) ((q)/(z - a))`
`= (q(z + a - z + a))/(4 pi epsilon_(0) (z^(2) - a^(2))) = (q^(2) a)/(4 pi epsilon_(0) (Z^(2) - a^(2)))`
`V = (P)/(4 pi epsilon_(0) (z^(2) - a^(2)))`
potential at (x,y,0) i.e., at a point 1 to z axis where charges are located is zero
We have proved that
`V = (P cos THETA)/(4 pi epsilon_(0) (r^(2) - a^(2) cos^(2) theta))`
if `(r )/(a) gt gt 1` then `a lt lt r :. V = (P cos theta)/(4 pi epsilon_(0) r^(2))`
`:. V = (1)/(r^(2))`
i.e., potential is inversly PROPORTIONAL to square of the distance
(c ) Potential at (5,0,0) is
`V_(1) = (-q)/(4 pi epsilon_(0)) (1)/(sqrt((5 - 0)^(2)) + (-a)^(2)))`
`+ (q)/(4 pi epsilon_(0)) (1)/(sqrt((5 - 0)^(2) + a^(2)))`
`= (-q)/(4 pi espilon_(0)sqrt(25 + a^(2))) + (q)/(4 pi epsilon_(0) sqrt(25 + a^(2))) = 0`
Potential at (-7, 0,0)
`V_(2) = (-q)/(4 pi epsilon_(0)) (1)/(sqrt((-7 -0)^(2) + a^(2)))`
= zero
As work done = charge `(V_(2) - V_(1))`
W = zero
As work done by electrostatic field is independent of the path connecting the two points THEREFORE work done will CONTINUE to be zero along every path.


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