Three identical point charges are placed at the vertices of an equilateral triangle…

PHYSICS · Single correct · AP · Physics 2: Algebra-based · Electric Force Field and Potential · Electric Force Field and Potential

Problem

Three identical point charges

+q

are placed at the vertices of an equilateral triangle of side length

a

. Calculate the total electric potential energy of the system. (a)

\displaystyle \frac{6kq^{2}}{a}

(b)

\displaystyle \frac{\sqrt{3}\,kq^{2}}{a}

(c)

\displaystyle \frac{3kq^{2}}{a}

(d)

\displaystyle \frac{3}{2}\,\frac{kq^{2}}{a}