To determine the direction of the force on charge -q, we can apply Coulomb's Law and the principles of electrostatics.

### Analyzing the Problem
1. **Identify Charges**: We need to consider the other charges present in the vicinity of charge -q. The force experienced by a charge due to another charge depends on the sign and the distance between them.
2. **Direction of Electric Field**: The electric field direction from a positive charge points away from the charge, while for a negative charge, it points toward the charge.

### Relevant Concepts
1. **Coulomb's Law**: The force $ F $ between two point charges $ q_1 $ and $ q_2 $ is given by:
$$
F = k \frac{|q_1 q_2|}{r^2}
$$
where $ k $ is Coulomb's constant, $ r $ is the distance between the charges.

2. **Electric Field**: The direction of the force on a charge in an electric field $ \vec{E} $ is determined by the equation:
$$
\vec{F} = q \vec{E}
$$
Here, a positive charge will move in the direction of the electric field, while a negative charge will move in the opposite direction.

### Analysis
1. If the surrounding charge is positive, the electric field generated by this charge will point away from that charge. Therefore, the direction of the force felt by the negative charge -q will be toward the positive charge.
2. Conversely, if the surrounding charge(s) are negative, the electric field points toward those charges, and hence the force on -q would be in the opposite direction.

### Conclusion
Without a specific figure or the arrangement of the other charges, we cannot definitively determine the direction. However, generally:

- If -q is near a positive charge, the force will be towards that positive charge (likely indicating an "Up" or "Down" direction).
- If -q is near other negative charges, the force will be away from them (possibly "To the left" or "To the right").

### Final Answer
Without additional context, the direction of the force on charge -q can vary. The answer depends on the position and type of surrounding charges. Please refer to the figure for precise direction options.

Question

To determine the direction of the force on charge -q, we can apply Coulomb's Law and the principles of electrostatics.

### Analyzing the Problem
1. **Identify Charges**: We need to consider the other charges present in the vicinity of charge -q. The force experienced by a charge due to another charge depends on the sign and the distance between them.
2. **Direction of Electric Field**: The electric field direction from a positive charge points away from the charge, while for a negative charge, it points toward the charge.

### Relevant Concepts
1. **Coulomb's Law**: The force $ F $ between two point charges $ q_1 $ and $ q_2 $ is given by:
   $$
   F = k \frac{|q_1 q_2|}{r^2}
   $$
   where $ k $ is Coulomb's constant, $ r $ is the distance between the charges.

2. **Electric Field**: The direction of the force on a charge in an electric field $ \vec{E} $ is determined by the equation:
   $$
   \vec{F} = q \vec{E}
   $$
   Here, a positive charge will move in the direction of the electric field, while a negative charge will move in the opposite direction.

### Analysis
1. If the surrounding charge is positive, the electric field generated by this charge will point away from that charge. Therefore, the direction of the force felt by the negative charge -q will be toward the positive charge.
2. Conversely, if the surrounding charge(s) are negative, the electric field points toward those charges, and hence the force on -q would be in the opposite direction.

### Conclusion
Without a specific figure or the arrangement of the other charges, we cannot definitively determine the direction. However, generally:

- If -q is near a positive charge, the force will be towards that positive charge (likely indicating an "Up" or "Down" direction).
- If -q is near other negative charges, the force will be away from them (possibly "To the left" or "To the right").

### Final Answer
Without additional context, the direction of the force on charge -q can vary. The answer depends on the position and type of surrounding charges. Please refer to the figure for precise direction options.

Knowee AI · Accepted Answer