Electrical Circuits

Let the known positive charge at point $P$ be $%2Bq$ .

We are told that:

The net electric force on $%2Bq$ is zero
$P$ is closer to $Q_2$ than to $Q_1$

For the forces to cancel each other:

$Q_1$ must attract $%2Bq$ if $Q_1$ is negative, or repel it if $Q_1$ is positive
Similarly, $Q_2$ must either attract or repel depending on its sign

Let’s assume both $Q_1$ and $Q_2$ are positive: Then both repel $%2Bq$ , and the forces are in opposite directions. For net force to be zero, the magnitudes must be equal. Since $P$ is closer to $Q_2$ , the force due to $Q_2$ would naturally be stronger unless its charge is smaller. So, to balance, $Q_2$ must have smaller magnitude than $Q_1$ . Therefore, the charges are of the same sign, and since $P$ is closer to $Q_2$ , for forces to cancel, we must have:

$%7CQ_1%7C%20%3E%20%7CQ_2%7C$

Answer: (D) $Q_1$ and $Q_2$ have the same sign, but magnitude of $Q_1$ is greater than the magnitude of $Q_2$

High-Yield Trend

Chapter Questions
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Official Solution

Electrical Circuits

High-Yield Trend

Chapter Questions 1 MCQs

Official Solution

Chapter Questions
1 MCQs