Three charges Q, +q and +q 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]

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 Q , +q , and +q . The distances between the pairs of charges are: 1. Distance between Q and +q (vertical side) = a 2. Distance between +q and +q (horizontal side) = a 3. Distance between Q and +q (hypotenuse) = a^2 + a^2 = a 2 The total electrostatic potential energy U of th