University Physics with Modern Physics (14th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321973615
ISBN 13: 978-0-32197-361-0

Chapter 23 - Electric Potential - Problems - Exercises - Page 777: 23.11

Answer

The third charge equals half of the magnitude of the other two charges

Work Step by Step

There are three charges, two of them have the same magnitude $q$ and the third is $q_o$. All of them far from each other with the same distance $r$. Also, we are given that the work is done or the potential energy for this system is zero. So, the energy that assembles the three charges will be the summation of the potential energy of each charge and will be calculated in the form \begin{gather*} U = \dfrac{1}{4\pi \epsilon_o} \sum \dfrac{q q_i}{r_i}= 0\\ \dfrac{1}{4\pi \epsilon_o} \left( \dfrac{q^2}{r} + \dfrac{qq_o}{r}+ \dfrac{qq_o}{r}\right) = 0 \\ q^2 + qq_o+qq_o =0\\ q^2 + 2 qq_o = 0 \\ q+2q_o = 0\\ q_o = \dfrac{-q}{2} \end{gather*} Hence, the third charge equals half of the magnitude of the other two charges
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