Question

Three Charged Metal Spheres Three identical metal spheres, x, y, and z, are placed at the corners of an equilateral triangle, as shown below. Sphere z has a constant positive charge. Which vector could represent the force on z, when y is positive and x is negative, with the magnitude of the charge on x less than that on y? Submit Answer Incorrect. Tries 2/3 Previous Tries

Answer 1

The vector A represent the net force on z due to the spheres of x and y.

Because the sphere is repelled by the positive sphere y and attracted by the negative sphere x. As we already know the charge on negative sphere is less than the charge on positive sphere then net force on sphere z is slightly away form the negative sphere due to the more positive charge on y sphere.

So, the resultant force on z is in A direction.