Four charges are arranged at the corners of a square ABCD of side d. as shown in fig. Find the work required to put together this arrangement. (b) A charge `q_(0)` is brought to the centre of the square, the four being held fixed at its corners. How much extra work is needed to do this ?

Explanation

Since the work done depends on the final arrangement of the charges, and not on how they are put together, we calculate work needed for one way of putting the charges at A,B,C and D. suppose,first the charge + q is brought to A, and then the charges -q, +q, and -q are brought to B,C and D, respectively. The total work needed can be calculated in steps.
(i) Work needed to bring charge +q to A when no charge is present elesewhere, this is zero.
(ii) Work needed to bring -q to B when +q is at A. This given by (Charge at B) x (Electrostatic potential at B due to charge + q at A) = - q `xx ((q)/(4 pi epsilon_(0) d))`
(iii) Work needed to bring charge +q to C when +q is at A and + q is at A and -q is at B. This is given by (charge at C) `xx` (potential at C due to charges at A and B)
`= + q ((+q)/(4 pi epsilon_(0) d sqrt(2)) + (-q)/(4 pi epsilon_(0) d))`
`= (- q^(2))/(4 pi epsilon_(0) d) (1 - (1)/(sqrt(2)))`
(iv) work needed to bring -q + D when +q at A, -q at B, and + q at C.
This is given by (charge at D) `xx` (potential at D due to charges at A,B and C)
`= - q ((+q)/(4 pi epsilon_(0) d) + (-q)/(4 pi epsilon_(0) d sqrt(2)) + (q)/(4 pi epsilon_(0) d))`
`= (-q^(2))/(4 pi epsilon_(0) d) (2 - (1)/(sqrt(2)))`
Add the work done is steps (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv). The total work required is
`= (-q^(2))/(4 pi epsilon_(0) d) {(0) + (1) + (1 - (1)/sqrt(2))) + (2 - (1)/(sqrt(2)))}`
`= (-q^(2))/(4 pi epsilon_(0) d) (4 - sqrt(2))`
The work done depends only on the arrangement of the charges, and not how they are assembled. By definition, this is the total electrostatic energy of the charges.
(Students may try calculating same work/energy by taking charges in any other they desire and convince themselves that the energy will remain the same.
(b). The extra work necessary to bring a charge `q_(0)` to the point E when the four charges are at A,B,C and D is `q_(0) xx` (electrostatic potential at E due to the charges at A,B,C and D). The electrostatic potential at E is clearly zero since potential due to A and C is cancelled by that due to B and D. Hence no work is required to bring and charge to point E.