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Four pointed charges are placed on verti...

Four pointed charges are placed on vertices of a square.If all the charges are brought to any one of the vertices.The change in potential at the centre of square due to this would be

A

Dependent on polarity of charges

B

A non-zero constant

C

Zero

D

Infinite

Text Solution

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The correct Answer is:
To solve the problem, we need to determine the change in electric potential at the center of a square when four point charges located at the vertices are moved to one vertex. ### Step-by-Step Solution: 1. **Identify the Charges and Configuration**: - Let the four charges be \( Q_1, Q_2, Q_3, \) and \( Q_4 \). - The charges are initially located at the vertices of a square with side length \( a \). 2. **Calculate the Initial Potential at the Center**: - The distance from each vertex of the square to the center is given by \( \frac{a}{\sqrt{2}} \). - The potential \( V \) at the center due to a point charge \( Q \) is given by the formula: \[ V = k \frac{Q}{r} \] where \( k \) is Coulomb's constant and \( r \) is the distance from the charge to the point where the potential is being calculated. - Therefore, the total potential at the center due to all four charges is: \[ V_{\text{initial}} = k \frac{Q_1}{\frac{a}{\sqrt{2}}} + k \frac{Q_2}{\frac{a}{\sqrt{2}}} + k \frac{Q_3}{\frac{a}{\sqrt{2}}} + k \frac{Q_4}{\frac{a}{\sqrt{2}}} \] - Simplifying this, we have: \[ V_{\text{initial}} = \frac{k \sqrt{2}}{a} (Q_1 + Q_2 + Q_3 + Q_4) \] 3. **Rearranging Charges to One Vertex**: - Now, we move all charges \( Q_1, Q_2, Q_3, \) and \( Q_4 \) to one vertex of the square. - The distance from this vertex to the center remains the same, \( \frac{a}{\sqrt{2}} \). 4. **Calculate the New Potential at the Center**: - The potential at the center due to the charges now located at one vertex is: \[ V_{\text{new}} = k \frac{Q_1}{\frac{a}{\sqrt{2}}} + k \frac{Q_2}{\frac{a}{\sqrt{2}}} + k \frac{Q_3}{\frac{a}{\sqrt{2}}} + k \frac{Q_4}{\frac{a}{\sqrt{2}}} \] - This simplifies to: \[ V_{\text{new}} = \frac{k \sqrt{2}}{a} (Q_1 + Q_2 + Q_3 + Q_4) \] 5. **Determine the Change in Potential**: - Since both the initial and new potential expressions are identical: \[ V_{\text{initial}} = V_{\text{new}} \] - Therefore, the change in potential \( \Delta V \) is: \[ \Delta V = V_{\text{new}} - V_{\text{initial}} = 0 \] ### Conclusion: The change in potential at the center of the square when all charges are brought to one vertex is zero.
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