## Electrostatic Potential Energy

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

How much work is required to exchange the positions of q2 and q3?

q2 q3

q1

q1 and q2 are separated by a distance of 4.00 cm and q2 and q3 are separated by a distance of 2.00cm

The charge on q1 is 5.00nC, q2 is -5.00nC and q3 is 10.0nC

2. Relevant equations

U=(K(q2)(q3))/(r23) (#1)
U=qV (#2)

3. The attempt at a solution

Since the energy required to hold these charges at their positions is equation 1, my guess to simply found the energy holding the charges and that would be the energy required to move them... Guess I'm wrong...

Any help is appreciated...
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 Can you help us picture the charge configuration? I'm guessing they're all lying on the same line but can you clarify this for me. How are they oriented with respect to eachother?
 Work is just the change in potential energy. So just find the difference in the final and initial total potential energies. So write down the initial total potential energy and the final total potential energy.

## Electrostatic Potential Energy

@CanIExplore:

They're positioned just like in my first post: q2 directly over q1 and q3 directly across q2.

 The total potential energy of 3 particles is just $U_{12} + U_{23} + U_{13}$. You can probably find that in your book.