Question

Three particles are placed at the corners of the equilateral triangle with the side a=1 cm. Top particle has a positive charge of 3 C and two bottom particles have a negative charge of –3 C. What are the value and the direction of the field exactly at the center of the triangle?

Answer 1

Explanation:

Three particles are situated at A,B and C having charge Q=10μC each.

The distance between the two charges r=10cm=0.1 m

Potential energy of the charges at A and B, E

AB

=

4πϵ

o

1

r

Q

2

∴ E

AB

=

0.1

9×10

9

×(10×10

−6

)

2

=9J

Similarly, E

BC

=E

AC

=9J

Total potential energy of the system, E=E

AB

+E

BC

+E

AC

=27J