Question

Three equal point charges, each with charge 1.05 μCμC , are placed at the vertices of an equilateral triangle whose sides are of length 0.500 mm . What is the electric potential energy UUU of the system? (Take as zero the potential energy of the three charges when they are infinitely far apart.)

Answer 1

The value is
`U = 0.06 \ J`

Step-by-step explanation:

From the question we are told that

The value of charge on each three point charge is

`q_1 = q_2 = q_3 =q= 1.05 \mu C = 1.05 *10^(-6) \ C`

The length of the sides of the equilateral triangle is
`r = 0.500 \`

Generally the total potential energy is mathematically represented as

`U = k * [ (q_1 * q_2)/(r) + (q_2 * q_3)/(r) + (q_3 * q_1)/(r) ]`

=>
`U = k * 3 * (q^2)/(r)`

Here k is coulomb constant with value
`k = 9*10^(9)\ kg\cdot m^3\cdot s^(-4) \cdot A^(-2).`

=>
`U  = 9*10^9 * 3 * ((1.05 *10^(-6))^2)/(0.5 )`

`U  = 0.06 \  J`