Imagine four equal positive charges, q, placed on points of a circle of radius r at the 3, 6, 9, and 12 o'clock positions. Coulomb's constant is k. The magnitude of the electric field at the center of the circle is given by A) 4 kq/r. B) 4 kq/r². C) kq/r. D) kq/r². E) zero.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The electric field at the center due to each charge will be directed radially outward or inward, and since the charges are equal and symmetrically placed, the fields due to each charge will cancel each other out. Therefore, the net electric field at the center of the circle is zero.

Imagine Four Equal Positive Charges, Q, Placed on Points of a Circle