Three particles each of mass m are placed at the three corners of an equilateral triangle of side a. The work which should be done to increase the sides of the triangle to 2a is

Explanation

(a) 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 elsewhere: this is zero.
(ii) Work needed to bring – q to B when + q is at A. This is given by (charge at B) `xx` (electrostatic potential at B due to charge + q at A)
`= -q xx ((q)/(4pi epsilon_(0)d)) = -(q^(2))/(4pi epsilon_(0)d)`
(iii) Work needed to bring charge +q to C when +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)/(4pi epsilon_(0)dsqrt(2))+(-q)/(4pi epsilon_(0)d))`
`= (-q^(2))/(4pi epsilon_(0)d)(1-(1)/(sqrt(2)))`
(iv) Work needed to bring –q to 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)/(4pi epsilon_(0)d)+(-q)/(4pi epsilon_(0)dsqrt(2))+(q)/(4pi epsilon_(0)d))`
`= (-q^(2))/(4pi epsilon_(0)d)(2-(1)/(sqrt(2)))`
Add the work done in steps (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv). The total work required is
`= (-q^(2))/(4pi epsilon_(0)d){(0) + (1)(1-(1)/(sqrt(2)))+(2-(1)/(sqrt(2)))}`
`= (-q^(2))/(4pi 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 order 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 any charge to point E.