Two point charges +10 q and -4 q are located at $\mathrm{x}=0$ and $\mathrm{x}=\mathrm{L}$ respectively.…

Two point charges +10 q and -4 q are located at $\mathrm{x}=0$ and $\mathrm{x}=\mathrm{L}$ respectively. What is the location of a point on the x -axis from the origin, which the net electric field due to these two point charges is zero? $(\mathrm{r}=$ required distance $)$
  1. $\mathrm{r}=\frac{\sqrt{2}}{\sqrt{5}-\sqrt{2}}$ right to pt.B
  2. $\mathrm{r}=\frac{\sqrt{2}}{\sqrt{5}-\sqrt{2}}$ left to pt.A
  3. $\mathrm{r}=\frac{\sqrt{2}}{\sqrt{5}+\sqrt{2}}$ right to pt.B
  4. $\mathrm{r}=\frac{\sqrt{2}}{\sqrt{5}+\sqrt{2}}$ left to pt.A

Solution

Let ' $Q$ ' be the point at a distance $r$ from $-4 q$ and $(\mathrm{L}+\mathrm{r})$ from 10 q . wherein net electric field is zero. $\begin{aligned} & E_1=E_2 \\ & \frac{K(10 q)}{(L+r)^2}=\frac{K(4 q)}{r^2} \end{aligned}$ $\begin{aligned} & \frac{\sqrt{10}}{\mathrm{~L}+\mathrm{r}}=\frac{2}{\mathrm{r}} \\ & \frac{\sqrt{5} \times \sqrt{2}}{\mathrm{~L}+\mathrm{r}}=\frac{\sqrt{2} \times \sqrt{2}}{\mathrm{r}}=\frac{2}{\mathrm{r}} \\ & \sqrt{5} \times \sqrt{2} \times \mathrm{r}=2(\mathrm{~L}+\mathrm{r}) \\ & \sqrt{5} \times \sqrt{2} \times \mathrm{r}=\sqrt{2} \times \sqrt{2}(\mathrm{~L}+\mathrm{r}) \\ & \sqrt{5} \mathrm{r}=\sqrt{2} \mathrm{~L}+\sqrt{2} \mathrm{r} \\ & \sqrt{5}-\sqrt{2} \mathrm{r}=\sqrt{2} \mathrm{~L} \\ & \mathrm{r}=\frac{\sqrt{2}}{\sqrt{5}-\sqrt{2}} \end{aligned}$
If $B$ is position of charge $-4 q$ then point $Q$ is $r=\frac{\sqrt{2}}{\sqrt{5}-\sqrt{2}}$ to the right of $B$

Asked in: MHT CET 2024 (10 May Shift 1)

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