- #1
jrk012
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- 0
Homework Statement
Three charges are located in the x-y plane (see plot below), with Q1 = -6.00 μC, Q2 = 5.00 μC and Q3 = -3.00 μC. Note that the charges are located at grid intersections points.
*I couldn't put the grid on here, but the points are Q1 = (-2,-4), Q2 = (-2, 2). and Q3 = (3, -4)
a) Calculate the total electrostatic potential energy.
b) Calculate the work required (by external forces) to transport Q3 from its location on the figure to infinity.
Homework Equations
PE = k[(Q1Q2/r12) + (Q1Q3/r1r3) + (Q2Q3/r2r3)]
The Attempt at a Solution
I got part a) to be -.0299 J, which was right. This is what I did for the second part:
k[(Q1Q3/r1r3) + (Q2Q3/r2r3)]=
=k[(-15/√61) + (18/5)]
=1.51x10^10 J.
I have tried both this and its negative counterpart, neither yielding a correct answer. Please help!