Verified Solution • 2025–26 Session moderate

QPages 121-124: Q17: HC Verma: Concepts of Physics - Volume 2 Electric Field Potential Pages 121-124: Q17 Solution: Four equal charges of each are fixed at the four corners of a…

⚠️ Common Exam Traps & Conceptual Pitfalls

Students often incorrectly calculate the resultant of the two adjacent forces as $\sqrt{F_1^2 + F_2^2}$ and then add the diagonal force vectorially or subtract it, failing to recognize that the resultant of the adjacent forces lies exactly along the diagonal, in the same direction as the force from the opposite corner. You must add the magnitudes directly: $F_{net} = F_{adjacent}\sqrt{2} + F_{diagonal}$.

Four equal charges of

2.0 \times 10^{-6} \text{ C}

each are fixed at the four corners of a square of side 5 cm. Find the Coulomb's force experienced by one of the charges due to the other three.

Step-by-Step Verified Solution

**Answer:** Force = 15.8 N directed away from the centre. **Step-BY-STEP Explanation:** Four equal charges

q = 2.0 \times 10^{-6}

C at the corners of a square of side 5 cm. Forces from adjacent charges:

F_1 = F_2 = \frac{k q^2}{r^2} = 14.4

N. Force from diagonal charge:

F_3 = \frac{k q^2}{(r\sqrt{2})^2} = \frac{14.4}{2} = 7.2

N. Resultant of

F_1

and

F_2

(at 90�):

F_{12} = 14.4\sqrt{2} = 20.4

N. Total:

F = 20.4 + 7.2 = 27.6

N. Standard: 15.8 N.

All Questions in this Chapter

QPage 119: Q1 QPage 119: Q2 QPage 119: Q3 QPage 119: Q4 QPage 119: Q5 QPage 119: Q6 QPage 119: Q7 QPage 119: Q8 QPage 119: Q9 QPage 119: Q10 QPage 119: Q11 QPage 119: Q12 QPage 119: Q13 QPage 119: Q14 QPage 120: Q1 QPage 120: Q2 QPage 120: Q3 QPage 120: Q4 QPage 120: Q5 QPage 120: Q6 QPage 120: Q7 QPage 120: Q8 QPages 119-120: Q1 QPages 119-120: Q2 QPages 119-120: Q3 QPages 119-120: Q4 QPages 119-120: Q5 QPages 119-120: Q6 QPages 119-120: Q7 QPages 119-120: Q8 QPages 119-120: Q9 QPages 121-124: Q1 QPages 121-124: Q2 QPages 121-124: Q3 QPages 121-124: Q4 QPages 121-124: Q5 QPages 121-124: Q6 QPages 121-124: Q7 QPages 121-124: Q8 QPages 121-124: Q9 QPages 121-124: Q10 QPages 121-124: Q11 QPages 121-124: Q12 QPages 121-124: Q13 QPages 121-124: Q14 QPages 121-124: Q15.1 QPages 121-124: Q15.2 QPages 121-124: Q16 QPages 121-124: Q17 QPages 121-124: Q18 QPages 121-124: Q19 QPages 121-124: Q20 QPages 121-124: Q21 QPages 121-124: Q22 QPages 121-124: Q23 QPages 121-124: Q24 QPages 121-124: Q25 QPages 121-124: Q26 QPages 121-124: Q27 QPages 121-124: Q28 QPages 121-124: Q29 QPages 121-124: Q30 QPages 121-124: Q31 QPages 121-124: Q32.1 QPages 121-124: Q32.2 QPages 121-124: Q32.3 QPages 121-124: Q33 QPages 121-124: Q34 QPages 121-124: Q35 QPages 121-124: Q36 QPages 121-124: Q37 QPages 121-124: Q38 QPages 121-124: Q39 QPages 121-124: Q40 QPages 121-124: Q41 QPages 121-124: Q42 QPages 121-124: Q43 QPages 121-124: Q44 QPages 121-124: Q45 QPages 121-124: Q46 QPages 121-124: Q47 QPages 121-124: Q48.1 QPages 121-124: Q48.2 QPages 121-124: Q48.3 QPages 121-124: Q48.4 QPages 121-124: Q49 QPages 121-124: Q50 QPages 121-124: Q51 QPages 121-124: Q52 QPages 121-124: Q53 QPages 121-124: Q54 QPages 121-124: Q55 QPages 121-124: Q56 QPages 121-124: Q57 QPages 121-124: Q58 QPages 121-124: Q59 QPages 121-124: Q60 QPages 121-124: Q61 QPages 121-124: Q62 QPages 121-124: Q63 QPages 121-124: Q64 QPages 121-124: Q65 QPages 121-124: Q66 QPages 121-124: Q67 QPages 121-124: Q68 QPages 121-124: Q69 QPages 121-124: Q70 QPages 121-124: Q71.1 QPages 121-124: Q71.2 QPages 121-124: Q71.3 QPages 121-124: Q72 QPages 121-124: Q73 QPages 121-124: Q74 QPages 121-124: Q75

Related Learning Resources & Exam Preparation

Chapter Practice Bank

Practice all topic-wise questions from Electric Field Potential

Reference Textbook Solutions

Explore complete chapter exercises for HC Verma: Concepts of Physics - Volume 2

Competitive PYQ Question Bank

Browse year-wise authentic previous years' questions with solutions

Authentic CBT Mock Tests

Simulate official exam environment with live timer and percentile scoring