Potential Due to a Pair of Charges - Part 1

Highlights of the activity

1. This small group activity is designed to help students learn how to calculate the electrostatic potential field due to a distribution of discrete charges.
2. Students calculate the electrostatic potential field generated by a two charges using superposition and the definition of $|\Vec r - \Vec r'|$.
3. The wrap-up discussion addresses how the superposition principle is used and what $|\Vec r - \Vec r'|$ means geometrically in a specific problem.

Reasons to spend class time on the activity

This activity is a quick check that students understand the role of $|\rr-\rr'|$ in the denominator of the expression for the potential due to a point charge. It is also a quick application of the superposition principle. This activity is part one of a longer activity, Electrostatic Potential Due to Two Point Charges, in which students do a series expansion of the expressions that they develop here.

Reflections

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Instructor's Guide

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