Question 10/00
CHARGES ON A CIRCLE
Several identical point charges (shown in red) are placed on a circular disk
(shown in blue) so as to minimize the electrostatic energy of the system.
Obviously, single charge can be placed anywhere as
depicted in Fig. (a), while a pair of charges will occupy opposite sides of the
diameter of the circle, as in Fig. (b). Similarly, three charges will form
an equilateral triangle, as in Fig. (c). What can you say about the geometric
arrangement of 4, 5, 6, ... charges?
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