Two stationary point charges of 3.00 nC and 2.00 nC are separated by a distance of 60.0 cm. An electron is released from rest at a point midway between the charges and moves along the line connecting them. Part A What is the electric potential energy of the electron when it is at the midpoint

U =-2.39*10^-18 J

Explanation:

In order to calculate the electric potential energy of the electron you use the following formula:

          (1)

k: Coulomb's constant = 8.98*10^9Nm^2/C^2

r: distance between charges

In this case the electron is at point midway between two charges, then the electric potential energy is the sum of two contributions:

e: charge of the electron = 1.6*10^-19C

q1: charge 1 = 3.00nC = 3.00*10^-9C

q2: charge 2 = 2.00nC = 3.00*10^-9C

r: distance to each charge = 60.0cm/2 = 30.0cm = 0.3m

If you consider that the electron is at the origin of coordinates, with the first charge in the negative x axis, and the other one in the positive x axis, you have:

The electric potential energy of the electron is -2.39*10^-18 J

the total distance that martina travels that day is

(distance from home to mom's office) plus (distance from mom's office to school)

plus (distance from school to library) plus (distance from library to friend's house)

plus (distance from friend's house to martina's house).

(we don't know what any of these distance actually is.)