Physics

Problem

Equal-magnitude charges q are fixed at the four corners of a square of side a in three different configurations. • Configuration I: All four charges are +q. • Configuration II: Two adjacent corners hold +q and the other two adjacent corners hold −q. • Configuration III: Charges alternate in sign around the square (+q, −q, +q, −q). Which ordering correctly ranks the total electric potential energies U_I, U_II, and U_III from most positive to most negative? a)

U_{II} > U_{I} > U_{III}

U_{III} > U_{II} > U_{I}

U_{I} > U_{II} > U_{III}

U_{I} > U_{III} > U_{II}

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