Bhavya
Last Activity: 9 Years ago
To get the total you take the vector sum of the individual forces. You put a test charge at O and calculate the force to each of the 5 individual charges.
Each charge is at the same distance and they are separated by an angle of 360/5 = 72º.
force from B.
Angle is 90–72 = 18º
Fx = Kcos 18
Fy = Ksin 18
(K factor includes distance and other constants)
Force from A
Fx = 0
Fy = K
Force from E
Fx = –Kcos18
Fy = Ksin18
Force from D
Fx = –Kcos 54
Fy = –Ksin 54
Force from C
Fx = Kcos54
Fy = –Ksin 54
add them up
Rx = Kcos18 + 0 –Kcos18 –Kcos 54 + Kcos54 = 0
Ry = Ksin18 + K + Ksin18 –Ksin 54 –Ksin 54
Ry = K + 2Ksin18 – 2Ksin54
Ry = k( 1 + 0.618034 – 1.618034) = 0
