Rankers Physics
Topic: Electrostatics
Subtopic: Electric Potential

Four point charges –Q, –q, 2q and 2Q are placed one at each corner of the square. The relation between Q and q for which the potential at the centre of the square is zero is
Q = q
Q = 1/q
Q = -q
Q = -1/q

Solution:

The potential at the center of the square is the sum of the potentials due to each charge. Since potential is a scalar quantity, the total potential at the center is the algebraic sum of individual potentials.

For the potential to be zero, the sum of the potentials must cancel out. The relationship between \( Q \) and \( q \) for this condition is:

\[
\frac{-Q}{r} + \frac{-q}{r} + \frac{2q}{r} + \frac{2Q}{r} = 0
\]

Simplifying:

\[
(-Q + 2Q) + (-q + 2q) = 0
\]

\[
Q = -q
\]

Thus, the relation is \( Q = -q \).

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