Consider the charges $q, q$,and $-q$ placed at the vertices of an equilateral triangle of side $l$,as shown in the figure. What is the force on each charge?

Vedclass pdf generator app on play store
Vedclass iOS app on app store
(N/A) Let the vertices of the equilateral triangle be $A, B$,and $C$ with charges $q_1 = q, q_2 = q$,and $q_3 = -q$ respectively. The side length is $l$.
The force on charge $q$ at $A$ $(F_1)$ is the vector sum of the repulsive force from $B$ $(F_{12})$ and the attractive force from $C$ $(F_{13})$. Both have magnitude $F = \frac{q^2}{4 \pi \varepsilon_0 l^2}$. The angle between them is $120^\circ$. Using the parallelogram law,the resultant magnitude is $F_1 = \sqrt{F^2 + F^2 + 2F^2 \cos(120^\circ)} = F$. The direction is along the line parallel to $BC$.
Similarly,the force on charge $q$ at $B$ $(F_2)$ is the vector sum of $F_{21}$ and $F_{23}$. By symmetry,its magnitude is $F_2 = F$,directed along the line parallel to $AC$.
The force on charge $-q$ at $C$ $(F_3)$ is the vector sum of $F_{31}$ and $F_{32}$. Both have magnitude $F$ and the angle between them is $60^\circ$. The resultant magnitude is $F_3 = \sqrt{F^2 + F^2 + 2F^2 \cos(60^\circ)} = \sqrt{3}F$. The direction is along the angle bisector of $\angle BCA$.
The sum of the forces is $F_1 + F_2 + F_3 = 0$,which is consistent with Newton's third law.

Explore More

Similar Questions

State the principle of superposition for electric forces.

The ratio of gravitational force and electrostatic repulsive force between two electrons is approximately (gravitational constant $= 6.7 \times 10^{-11} \, Nm^2/kg^2$,mass of an electron $= 9.1 \times 10^{-31} \, kg$,charge on an electron $= 1.6 \times 10^{-19} \, C$).

Two pith balls, each carrying charge $+q$, are hung from a hook by two strings of length $L$. It is found that when each charge is tripled, the angle between the strings doubles. What was the initial angle between the strings (in $^{\circ}$)?

Two charged spheres are suspended by strings of equal length. The strings make an angle of $30^{\circ}$ with each other. When suspended in a liquid of density $0.8 \ g/cm^3$,the angle remains the same. The dielectric constant of the liquid is ........ (The density of the material of the sphere is $1.6 \ g/cm^3$.)

Difficult
View Solution

$(a)$ In a quark model of elementary particles,a neutron is made of one up quark [ charge $\frac{2}{3}e$ ] and two down quarks [ charges $-\frac{1}{3}e$ ]. Assume that they have a triangle configuration with side length of the order of ${10^{ - 15}} \ m$. Calculate the electrostatic potential energy of the neutron and compare it with its mass $939 \ MeV$. $(b)$ Repeat the above exercise for a proton which is made of two up and one down quark.

Difficult
View Solution

Vedclass Products

For Students

Vedclass Test Series

Mock tests in real JEE/NEET style with performance analysis. 5-day free trial.

Start Free Trial
For Teachers

Exam Paper Generator

Generate Set A/B/C/D exam papers from 7.5L+ questions in 2 minutes. 3 chapters free.

Try Free
For Institutes

Online Exam Module

Live online exams with unlimited students, 360° analytics & white-label branding.

See Demo