Two particles, each with charge Q, and a third particle, with a charge q, are placed at the vertices of an equilateral triangle as shown. The total force on the particle with charge q is:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Since each of the charges Q is equidistant from the particle with charge q, the forces they apply are of equal magnitude and cancel out along the horizontal direction. Therefore, the net force on the particle with charge q is perpendicular to the bottom side of the triangle.

Two Particles, Each with Charge Q, and a Third Particle