Fundamentals of Physics Extended (10th Edition)

Published by Wiley
ISBN 10: 1-11823-072-8
ISBN 13: 978-1-11823-072-5

Chapter 24 - Electric Potential - Questions - Page 709: 7d

Answer

There is no change in the electric potential energy of the three-particle system. The work done by the net electric force on the particle of charge $+q$ due to the other two particles is $~~0$ The work done by our force on the particle of charge $+q$ is $~~0$

Work Step by Step

We can write a general expression for the electric potential energy of a system of charged particles: $U = \frac{1}{4\pi~\epsilon_0}~\sum \frac{q_i~q_j}{r_{ij}}$ We can find an expression for the electric potential energy of the system when the $+q$ charge is at point B: $U_B = \frac{1}{4\pi~\epsilon_0}~(\frac{q~Q}{d}+\frac{q~Q}{2d}+\frac{Q^2}{3d})$ We can find an expression for the electric potential energy of the system when the $+q$ charge is at point C: $U_C = \frac{1}{4\pi~\epsilon_0}~(\frac{q~Q}{d}+\frac{q~Q}{2d}+\frac{Q^2}{3d})$ Note that $U_B = U_C$ There is no change in the electric potential energy of the three-particle system. We can find the work done by the net electric force on the particle of charge $+q$ due to the other two particles: $Work = -\Delta U = 0$ The work done by the net electric force on the particle of charge $+q$ due to the other two particles is $~~0$ We can find the work done by our force on the particle of charge $+q$: $Work = \Delta U = 0$ The work done by our force on the particle of charge $+q$ is $~~0$
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