Q. Four charges equal to $–\mathcal{Q}$ are placed at the four corners of a square and a charge $q$ is at its centre .If the system is in equilibrium, the value of $q$ is

A) $- \frac{\mathcal{Q}}{4}\left( 1 + 2\sqrt{2} \right)$
B) $\frac{\mathcal{Q}}{4}\left( 1 + 2\sqrt{2} \right)$
C) $- \frac{\mathcal{Q}}{2}\left( 1 + 2\sqrt{2} \right)$
D) $\frac{\mathcal{Q}}{2}\left( 1 + 2\sqrt{2} \right)$
Explanation

(b) The system is in equilibrium means the force experienced by each charge is 0. It is clear that charge placed at centre would be in equilibrium for any value of$\ q$, so we are considering the equilibrium of charge placed at any corner.
$F_{CD} + F_{CA}\cos{45{^\circ} + F_{co}\cos{45{^\circ} = 0}}$
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$\frac{1}{4\pi\varepsilon_{0}}.\frac{\left( \mathcal{- Q} \right)\left( \mathcal{- Q} \right)}{a^{2}} + \frac{1}{4\pi\varepsilon_{0}}\frac{\left( \mathcal{- Q} \right)\left( \mathcal{- Q} \right)}{\left( \sqrt{2a} \right)^{2}}$
$\times \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} + \frac{1}{4\pi\varepsilon_{0}}\frac{\left( \mathcal{- Q} \right)q}{\ \left( \sqrt{2a/2)} \right)^{2}} \times \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} = 0$
$\frac{1}{4\pi\varepsilon_{0}}\frac{\mathcal{Q}^{2}}{a^{2}} + \frac{1}{4\pi\varepsilon_{0}}\frac{\mathcal{Q}^{2}}{{2a}^{2}}.\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} - \frac{1}{4\pi\varepsilon_{0}}\frac{2\mathcal{Q}q}{a^{2}} \times \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} = 0$
$\mathcal{\Longrightarrow \ \ Q +}\frac{\mathcal{Q}}{2\sqrt{2}} - \sqrt{2q} = 0$
$\Longrightarrow \ 2\sqrt{2}\mathcal{Q + Q -}4q = 0$
$\ \Longrightarrow 4q = (2\sqrt{2} + 1)\mathcal{Q}$
$\Longrightarrow q = \left( 2\sqrt{2} + 1 \right)\frac{\mathcal{Q}}{4}\ $

Dr. Abubacker
Reviewed by Dr. Abubacker

Physics Educator & NEET/JEE Specialist

Ph.D. in Physics with 19+ years of teaching experience.