Question

Two particles, each having positive charge q q , are positioned on the x x axis at x=−L/2–√ x = − L / 2 and x=+L/2–√ x = + L / 2 . What would be the potential at the origin if one of the charges on the x x axis were negative and the other one positive?

Answer 1

Potential is a scalar quantity means it is positive for a positive charge and negative for a negative charge. Potential at a point depends upon the charge and distance of observation point from the charge. As distance is same and charges are equal in magnitude and opposite in nature, so potential at the origin due to positive charge will be positive and it will be negative due to the negative charge but having same magnitude, so net potential at the origin is ZERO.

Electric Potential is given by the formula V = kq/r