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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, +q+q and +q+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]
Three charges Q, +q and +q are placed at the vertices of the right angle triangle (isosceles triangle) as shown. The

Options

  1. A−q1+2\dfrac{-q}{1+\sqrt{2}}
  2. B−2q1+2\dfrac{-\sqrt{2}q}{1+\sqrt{2}}
  3. C−q1+3\dfrac{-q}{1+\sqrt{3}}
  4. D−q-q

Correct answer

B. −2q1+2\dfrac{-\sqrt{2}q}{1+\sqrt{2}}

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 QQ, +q+q, and +q+q.The distances between the pairs of charges are:1. Distance between Qand+qQ and +q (vertical side) =a= a2. Distance between +qand+q+q and +q (horizontal side) =a= a3. Distance between Qand+qQ and +q (hypotenuse) =a2+a2=a2= \sqrt{a^2 + a^2} = a\sqrt{2}The total electrostatic potential energy UU of the system is given by:U=14πϵ0(Q⋅qa+q⋅qa+Q⋅qa2)Giventhatthenetelectrostaticenergyoftheconfigurationiszero,wehaveU = \dfrac{1}{4\pi\epsilon_0} \left( \dfrac{Q \cdot q}{a} + \dfrac{q \cdot q}{a} + \dfrac{Q \cdot q}{a\sqrt{2}} \right)Given that the net electrostatic energy of the configuration is zero, we haveU = 0:14πϵ0(Qqa+q2a+Qqa2)=0:\dfrac{1}{4\pi\epsilon_0} \left( \dfrac{Qq}{a} + \dfrac{q^2}{a} + \dfrac{Qq}{a\sqrt{2}} \right) =0Dividing the entire equation by q4πϵ0a\dfrac{q}{4\pi\epsilon_0 a} (assuming q≠0q ≠ 0), we get:Q+q+Q2=0Q + q + \dfrac{Q}{\sqrt{2}} =0Grouping the terms with QQ:Q(1+12)+Q \left(1 + \dfrac{1}{\sqrt{2}} \right) +q = 0 Q \left( \dfrac{\sqrt{2} + 1}{\sqrt{2}} \right) =−-q Q = \dfrac{-\sqrt{2}q}{\sqrt{2} + 1}Answer:Answer:\dfrac{-\sqrt{2}q}{1+\sqrt{2}}
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