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III. Long Answer Questions · Q8

Q.Obtain an expression for the potential energy due to a collection of three point charges which are separated by finite distances.

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Step 1. Bring in q1q_1. With no other charges yet present, bringing q1q_1 in from infinity costs zero work.

Step 2. Bring in q2q_2. Against the field of q1q_1 alone, the work needed is W2=kq1q2/r12W_2=kq_1q_2/r_{12}.

Step 3. Bring in q3q_3. Against the combined field of both q1q_1 and q2q_2 already in place, the work needed is W3=kq1q3/r13+kq2q3/r23W_3=kq_1q_3/r_{13}+kq_2q_3/r_{23}. …

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