Three identical small spheres

PHYSICS · Single correct · CBSE · Physics · Gravitation · Gravitation

Problem

Three identical small spheres, each of mass

m

, are fixed in one of the following configurations. In every case the shortest distance between any two spheres is

0.50\,\text{m}

. • Configuration A: The spheres occupy the vertices of an equilateral triangle of side

0.50\,\text{m}

. • Configuration B: The spheres lie along a straight line with adjacent spheres

0.50\,\text{m}

apart. • Configuration C: The spheres occupy the vertices of a right triangle whose legs are

0.50\,\text{m}

long. Let

U_A

U_B

, and

U_C

be the total gravitational potential energies of the three-sphere systems, taking

U = 0

when the spheres are infinitely separated. Rank the three energies from most negative to least negative. (a)

U_B < U_C < U_A

(b)

U_A < U_C < U_B

(c)

U_C < U_A < U_B

(d)

U_A < U_B < U_C