Answer:
- 2.7 x 10^-6 J
Explanation:
q1 = 1 nC at x = 0 cm
q2 = - 1 nC at x = 1 cm
q3 = 4 nC at x = 2 cm
The formula for the potential energy between the two charges is given by
[tex]U=\frac{Kq_{1}q_{2}}{r}[/tex]
where r be the distance between the two charges
By use of superposition principle, the total energy of the system is given by
[tex]U = U_{1,2}+U_{2,3}+U_{3,1}[/tex]
[tex]U=\frac{Kq_{1}q_{2}}{0.01}+\frac{Kq_{2}q_{3}}{0.01}+\frac{Kq_{3}q_{1}}{0.02}[/tex]
[tex]U=-\frac{9\times10^{9}\times 1\times10^{-9}\times 1\times10^{-9}}}{0.01}-\frac{9\times10^{9}\times 1\times10^{-9}\times 4\times10^{-9}}}{0.01}+-\frac{9\times10^{9}\times 1\times10^{-9}\times 4\times10^{-9}}}{0.02}[/tex]
U = - 2.7 x 10^-6 J
