Chapter 21, Problem 32P

GO Figure 21-34a shows charged particles 1 and 2 that are fixed in place on an x axis. Particle 1 has a charge with a magnitude of |q₁| = 8.00e. Particle 3 of charge q₃ = +8.00e is initially on the x axis near particle 2. Then particle 3 is gradually moved in the positive direction of the x axis. As a result, the magnitude of the net electrostatic force ${\stackrel{\to }{F}}_{\text{2, net}}$ on particle 2 due to particles 1 and 3 changes. Figure 21-34b gives the x component of that net force as a function of the position x of particle 3. The scale of the x axis is set by x_s = 0.80 m. The plot has an asymptote of F_{2, net} = 1.5 × 10⁻²⁵ N as x → ∞. As a multiple of e and including the sign, what is the charge q₂ of particle 2?

Figure 21-34 Problem 32.