Calculating Electric Potential Energy of a Charge Configuration

AI Thread Summary
To calculate the electric potential energy of the charge configuration, one must consider all combinations of pairs of charges. The formula kQ1Q2/r is used for each pair, where k is Coulomb's constant, Q1 and Q2 are the charges, and r is the distance between them. The total potential energy is found by summing the potential energies of all unique pairs. It is essential to include the interaction between the charge at the origin and each of the three identical charges, as well as the interactions among the identical charges themselves. This comprehensive approach ensures an accurate calculation of the system's total potential energy.
squintyeyes
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how would you solve this problem?

A charge q1 = 3.40 nC is placed at the origin. Three identical charges, q2, q3 q4, are placed at the positions (0.100 m, 0 m), (0 m, 0.100 m), and (0.100 m, 0.100 m). What is the potential energy of this configuration of charges?

should you do answer = 4kq^2/r or something else?
 
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take all possible combinations of any two charges and find their potential energues using kQ1 Q2/r and add all the these/
 
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