Question

Rank the six combinations of electric charges on the basis of the electric force acting on q1. Define forces pointing to the right as positive and forces pointing to the left as negative. Rank in increasing order by placing the most negative on the left and the most positive on the right. To rank items as equivalent, overlap them.

Answer 1

I have attached the image showing the 6 combination of charges

Answer:

Smallest are: q1 = +1 nc, q2 = +1 nc, q3 = +1 nc and q1 = -1 nc, q2 = -1 nc, q3 = -1nc

Third Largest: q1 = +1 nc, q2 = +1nc, q3 = -1 nc

Second Largest: q1 = +1 nc, q2 = -1 nc, q3 = +1 nc

Largest are: q1 = +1 nc, q2 = -1 nc, q3 = -1 nc and q1 = -1 nc, q2 = +1 nc, q3 = +1 nc

Explanation:

The electrostatic force between 2 charges is; F = k•q1•q2/r²

Where r is the distance between the 2 charges q1 and q2 and k is coulombs constant.

Thus;

F ∝ q1•q2/r²

The net force on the charge q1 is the sum of the forces on charge q2 and q3.

If the two charges are opposite, the force is an attractive force while if the two charges are similar, the force is a repulsive force.

Thus, if the combination has same type of charges, i.e;(+1,+1,+1) or (-1,-1,-1), the force will be very small.

So, now the order of forces from smallest to largest is;

Smallest are: q1 = +1 nc, q2 = +1 nc, q3 = +1 nc and q1 = -1 nc, q2 = -1 nc, q3 = -1nc

Third Largest: q1 = +1 nc, q2 = +1nc, q3 = -1 nc

Second Largest: q1 = +1 nc, q2 = -1 nc, q3 = +1 nc

Largest are: q1 = +1 nc, q2 = -1 nc, q3 = -1 nc and q1 = -1 nc, q2 = +1 nc, q3 = +1 nc