The work required to assemble eight identical charged particles at the corners of a cube is calculated using the formula for electric potential energy, which involves the pairwise interactions between the charges. Each pair contributes to the total work, leading to a cumulative energy that can be expressed as W = k * q^2 * Σ(1/r_ij), where r_ij is the distance between each pair of charges. Given that like charges repel, this configuration is inherently unstable, as any slight displacement of one particle will result in a net force pushing it away from the others. The stability of the configuration can be further analyzed by considering the forces acting on each particle, indicating that the system will not remain in equilibrium. Thus, the assembly of these charged particles at the corners of a cube requires significant work and results in an unstable arrangement.
