What is the net force exerted by these two charges on a third charge?

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What is the net force exerted by two charges on a third charge? 
According to Coulomb's law, the magnitude of the force ( F ) between two particles with charges ( Q ) and ( Q' ), separated by a distance ( d ), is given by the formula:
[
|F| = K \left( \frac{|QQ'|}{d^2} ight)
]
where ( K = 8.854 	imes 10^{-12} \, 	ext{C}^2/(	ext{N} \cdot 	ext{m}^2) ) is the permittivity of free space.
Consider two point charges located on the x-axis: one charge, ( Q_1 = -12.0 \, 	ext{nC} ), is positioned at ( x_1 = -1.705 \, 	ext{m} ), and the second charge, ( Q_2 = 36.5 \, 	ext{nC} ), is at the origin ( ( x = 0 \, 	ext{m} )). We want to determine the net force exerted by these two charges on a third charge, ( Q_3 = 55.0 \, 	ext{nC} ), which is placed between ( Q_1 ) and ( Q_2 ) at ( x_3 = -1.155 \, 	ext{m} ). 
Please calculate the force exerted on ( Q_3 ) and indicate whether the result is positive or negative, depending on the direction of the force. Provide your answer in Newtons. Additionally, I would appreciate a step-by-step explanation of how to solve this problem. Thank you!

Tania Kuphal Jr. · Accepted Answer

Since Q1 is negative and to the left of Q3 the force will be to the left
Since Q2 is positive and to the right of Q3 the the force will also be to the left
Therefore you can add the forces together (with left being negative)
Now we have F = -kQ1Q3/r13^2 - kQ2Q3/r23^2
= -9.0x10^912x10^-955x10^-9/(1.705 - 1.155)^2 - 9.0x10^936.5x10^-955x10^-9/1.155^2
= -3.32x10^-5N

Anonymous

What is the net force exerted by these two charges on a third charge?

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