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AP Physics C: E&M
9.2 Electric Potential
8.3 Electric Fields
Multi-Unit
IntermediateMCQDrawing RepresentationsMathematicalConceptual22.4k
A horizontal axis labeled \(x\) and a vertical axis labeled \(y\) intersect at an origin labeled \(O\). On the horizontal axis, a small filled circle at \(x = -d\) is labeled \(+4q\), and a small filled circle at \(x = +d\) is labeled \(+q\). Surrounding these points are smooth, thin solid closed curves representing equipotential contours. Near \(x = -d\), four concentric oval contours are tightly spaced, labeled successively from inside out as \(40\text{ V}\), \(30\text{ V}\), \(20\text{ V}\), and \(10\text{ V}\). To the left of the \(+4q\) charge, along the horizontal axis, a solid black dot is labeled \(P\), where the \(30\text{ V}\) contour is vertical and the perpendicular distance to the adjacent \(20\text{ V}\) contour to its left is \(1.0\text{ cm}\). Directly above the \(+q\) charge, a solid black dot is labeled \(Q\), where the \(20\text{ V}\) contour is horizontal and the perpendicular distance to the adjacent \(10\text{ V}\) contour above it is \(2.0\text{ cm}\). No other labels, lines, text, or axes appear.
Equipotential contours in the \(xy\)-plane with marked points \(P\) and \(Q\).
In the \(xy\)-plane, two fixed positive charges produce an electric potential distribution represented by a set of equipotential contours, where the potential difference between adjacent contours is constant at \(\Delta V = 10\text{ V}\). At point \(P\), the local equipotential contour is parallel to the \(y\)-axis, the potential decreases in the \(-x\)-direction, and the perpendicular spacing to the next contour is \(1.0\text{ cm}\). At point \(Q\), the local equipotential contour is parallel to the \(x\)-axis, the potential decreases in the \(+y\)-direction, and the perpendicular spacing to the next contour is \(2.0\text{ cm}\). Which of the following diagrams best represents the directions and relative magnitudes of the electric field vectors \(\vec{E}_P\) and \(\vec{E}_Q\) at points \(P\) and \(Q\)?

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