Five positive charges each having charge q are placed at the vertices of a pentagon as shown in the figure. The electric potential (V) and the electric field ( $\vec{E}$ ) at the center O of the pentagon due to these five positive charges are :
Options

Question

Five positive charges each having charge q are placed at the vertices of a pentagon as shown in the figure. The electric potential (V) and the electric field ( $\vec{E}$ ) at the center O of the pentagon due to these five positive charges are :

Options

G1 Physics · Accepted Answer

All five charges are at the same distance r from the centre. Electric potential is a scalar quantity, so the contributions add directly: V = 5(kq/r) = 5q/(4πε₀r). For electric field, the five equal field vectors are symmetrically separated by 72° around the centre. Their vector sum is zero. Therefore, E⃗ = 0. Hence, V = 5q/(4πε₀r) and E⃗ = 0. Correct option: A.

Five positive charges each having charge q are placed at the vertices of a pentagon as shown in the figure. The electric potential (V) and the electric field ( E ⃗ \vec{E} E ) at the center O of the pentagon due to these five positive charges are :