In: Physics
Electrostatic Force and Equilibrium
Consider a rhombus with side of length L. The rhombus has two
pair
of equal interior angles. Label one of these pair θ and the other
φ. Four
identical, positive point charges, q are placed on the vertices of
the rhombus.
Draw the configuration.
a) Obtain a symbolic expression for the electric field at one of
the vertices
(your choice) and then at an adjacent vertex (Do you now know the
electric
field at all of the vertices? Why/why not?). Does it matter that
there is a
charge at the vertex? Comment on the direction of the electric
field at your
two vertices. Does this make sense? Why?
b) We now allow the angles to vary, subject to the constraint
that the figure
must remain a rhombus. Label one of the vertices P. What θ value
and φ
value, (in degrees), minimizes the electric field at P . Hint: You
should only
have to do one minimization, as there is a constraint between θ and
φ.
c) Plot the magnitude of the electric field at P as a function
of the angle
opposite P ( This will be θ or φ depending on how you labeled your
figure).
Please show your work and explanation. Thanks for your help.