Thread: electric field.

An electric field of 281,000 N/C points due west at a certain point. What are the magnitude and direction of the force that acts on a charge of -7.4 µC at this spot?

magnitude in Newtons
direction?

couldn't this be set up as: F = (-7.4uC) * (281,000 N/C)

is uC the same as C? just uC is a micro Coulomb?

also, do i need this expressed in scientific notation to make it correct.

Originally Posted by rcmango

An electric field of 281,000 N/C points due west at a certain point. What are the magnitude and direction of the force that acts on a charge of -7.4 µC at this spot?

magnitude in Newtons
direction?

couldn't this be set up as: F = (-7.4uC) * (281,000 N/C)

is uC the same as C? just uC is a micro Coulomb?

also, do i need this expressed in scientific notation to make it correct.

To get a force in units of newton you need to express -7.4uC as C, then do the multiplication. Giving the answer using scientific notation is probably the simplest way of giving it.

With the cancellation of powers of 10, it'll actually just be F = -7.4 x 0.281 N = ......

You should be able to the multiplication on paper - without a calculator

And you do realise that you 'lose' the minus once you give the direction ....?