Three point charges are placed at the corners of an equilateral triangle. Assuming only electrostatic forces are acting.

Question

Three point charges are placed at the corners of an equilateral triangle. Assuming only electrostatic forces are acting. (A) The system can never be in equilibrium. (B) The system will be in equilibrium if the charges rotate about the centre of the triangle. (C) The system will be in equilibrium if the charges have different magnitudes and different signs. (D) The system will be in equilibrium if the charges have the same magnitude but different signs.

Tardigrade Admin · Accepted Answer

Three charged particles are in equilibrium under their electrostatic forces only when the particles are on the same line (i.e., collinear). All the charges cannot have the same magnitude and same sign.

Q. Three point charges are placed at the corners of an equilateral triangle. Assuming only electrostatic forces are acting.

The system can never be in equilibrium.

The system will be in equilibrium if the charges rotate about the centre of the triangle.

The system will be in equilibrium if the charges have different magnitudes and different signs.

The system will be in equilibrium if the charges have the same magnitude but different signs.

Three charged particles are in equilibrium under their electrostatic forces only when the particles are on the same line (i.e., collinear). All the charges cannot have the same magnitude and same sign.