Question

Four electrons are located at the corners of a square 10.0nm on a side, with an alpha particle at its midpoint. How much work is needed to move the alpha particle to the midpoint of one of the sides of the square?

Answer 1

calculate the potential energy in the center
4 k 2 Qe^2/half diagonal^2

then calculate it at the center of a side
2 k 2 Qe^2/ half side^2 + 2 k 2 Qe^2/diagonal^2

the difference in potential energy is the work done

Answer 2

good question