Final answer:
The total electric field at the center of the rectangle with point like charges at the corners will point away from both positive charges at corners (A) and (C). This indicates that the correct direction of the electric field should be toward the opposite corner, which would be corner (D).
Step-by-step explanation:
When considering the placement of three point like charges at the corners of a rectangle with one positive charge at corner (A), a neutral charge at corner (B), and another positive charge at corner (C), we must analyze the electric field contributions from the charges at (A) and (C). The electric field at the center of the rectangle will result from the vector addition of the fields due to each charge. Since the charge at (B) is neutral, it does not contribute to the electric field.
The electric field direction due to a positive charge points away from the charge, according to the properties of electric fields. Thus, the field at the center due to charge (A) will point away from (A), and similarly, the field due to charge (C) will point away from (C). In a rectangular arrangement, this means that the resultant electric field at the center of the rectangle will be directed along the line that connects the midpoint of (A) and (C) but away from both charges.
Therefore, option 1 and option 2 are incorrect, as the total electric field does not point towards either (A) or (C). Option 4 is incomplete. The correct answer should be that the total electric field at the center of the rectangle points in the direction away from both (A) and (C), which would be toward corner (D) if (D) were the only other corner mentioned. This would mean option 3 is the most likely correct choice, assuming that (D) is the opposite corner in this scenario.