If, instead, charge 3 is located to the left of charge 1 at a point (on the x axis) that satisfies the conditions given in the problem, which of the following statements correctly describes the net force on charge 3?

The net force on charge 3 is

If, instead, charge 3 is located to the left of charge 1 at a point (on the x axis) that satisfies the conditions given in the problem, which of the following statements correctly describes the net force on charge 3?

zero.
directed to the left.
directed to the right

You are trying to find the position on the x-axis of charge 3. Assuming that the load 1 is at the origin of the x-axis and the positive x-axis points to the right.

There are two possible configurations with two values for x3:

- a positive value x3 when charge 3 is to the right of charge 1 and between the two charges

- a negative value x3 when charge 3 is found to the left of charge 1 (that is, to the left of the origin).

Therefore, if the charge 3 is somewhere to the left of the charge 1, both electric forces exerted on it point to the left.

Then the net force on the charge 3 will also be directed to the left.

Hope this helps!