Is it possible for two test charges released from same point in an electric field to take two different paths?

Question

Can you please explain this to me either way... I don't really know.

Answer 1

Yes, quite possible. The complete path that they take is governed by three parameters:
1) the electric field distribution
2) the initial velocity
3) the charge to mass ratio

If the charge to mass ratio or initial velocity of the second charge is different from that of the first, the path of the second charge will diverge, and will begin sampling the electric field in locations not seen by the first charge.

Two equal test charges at the same point in space will feel the same force on them, but that's not enough to guarantee that they follow the same paths.

Answer 2

Sure - if they are released at the same time. Even if the two test charges have the same charge and mass, they will experience a repulsive coulomb force in addition to the force of the electric field on each charge. Essentially, they modify the electric field in their immediate vicinity.

Of course, if they are oppositely charged, they also will take two different paths.

Answer 3

When you were to release charge 1, you create a slight change to the magnetic field. Since test charges are positive, the field will be slightly repulsive and cause the second charge to go off on a different path.

If you were to release them simultaneously at the same point, they would repel equally so they'd go off in opposite directions.

In spite of a large time gap, you'd still have a slight change to your electric field so you'd have a changed path.

Answer 4

If the field is kept constant and the charges are released at separate times(so they don't influence each other) then the 2 charges should follow exactly the same path.

Assuming that the 2 particles have the same mass and charge

Answer 5

Assuming same charge, no.

A field can be defined by mathematical equations.

If the equation does not change, and the initial conditions do not change (starting point, mass, charge, velocity/acceleration vector), and the boundary conditions do not change, the path should be identical.

However, I don't know how you would get two test particles in the exact same position simultaneously. If you repeat the experiment with different identical particles, though, the result should be identical.

Answer 6

look it all depends i mean it depends on whether they have the same charge or not (sign does matter) charges of opposite sighns take paths along opposite directions.
secondly , the angle of projection ( i.e the angle that the velocity vector makes with the field vector )also matters . like just for an example a body can describe both parabolic motion and straightline motion when thrown upwards from earth depending on their angle of projection.

Answer 7

lightning never hits the same spot, so i suppouse it is possible. for example, imagine a circut a - charge and a - charge are released from one point into a circut. negative and negative do not combine, so it will work its way around in oppisite directions to find the + charges. I know, that did'nt make sense it made better sense in my mind :P

Answer 8

remember the gap formulation: d = ?((x1 - x2)^2 + (y2 - y1)) r1^2 = (4 - -a million)^2 + (-2 - 0)^2 = 25 + 4 = 29 r2^2 = (a million - -a million)^2 + (2 - 0)^2 = 4 + 4 = 8 E1 = -7k / (r1^2) = -7k/29 E2 = 12k / (r2^2) = 12k/8 = 3k/4 E = 3k/4 - 7k/29 F = qE = a million.67E-19E for section b this is the variety you come across the magnitudes. The instructions are seen and that i won't be able to draw on right here. sturdy success!

Answer 9

When you are looking at only 2 charges I would say no. It is based on probability. But on a macroscopic view yes, if you look at a CRT (monitor, TV, etc...), every bit of light you see on your screen is a carefully placed electron.

Answer 10

yes, i belive it would create another path, as lighting does not hit in the same spot. so i think it would create 2 different fields