MHT CET 202624 AprilMorning Shift
- Exam
- MHT CET
- Year
- 2026
- Date
- 24 April
- Shift
- Morning Shift
- Subject
- Physics
- Chapter
- Electrostatics
MHT CET 2026 · 24 April · Morning Shift · Physics · Electrostatics
Three charges Q, +q and +q are placed at the vertices of the right...
Three charges Q, and are placed at the vertices of the right angle triangle (isosceles triangle) as shown. The net electrostatic energy of the configuration is zero, if Q is equal to [a = length of two equal sides of a triangle]


Options
- A
- B
- C
- D
Correct answer
B.
Step-by-step solution
The net electrostatic potential energy of a system of charges is the sum of the potential energies of all pairs of charges.Let the charges be placed at the vertices of the right-angled isosceles triangle. From the given figure, the charges are , , and .The distances between the pairs of charges are:1. Distance between (vertical side) 2. Distance between (horizontal side) 3. Distance between (hypotenuse) The total electrostatic potential energy of the system is given by:U = 0Dividing the entire equation by (assuming ), we get:Grouping the terms with :q = 0 Q \left( \dfrac{\sqrt{2} + 1}{\sqrt{2}} \right) =q Q = \dfrac{-\sqrt{2}q}{\sqrt{2} + 1}\dfrac{-\sqrt{2}q}{1+\sqrt{2}}