Physics · Electric charges: conservation of charge, Coulomb's law forces between two point charges, forces between multiple charges, superposition principle and continuous charge distribution

Positive point charges are placed at the vertices of a star shape as shown in th

Positive point charges are placed at the vertices of a star shape as shown in the figure. Direction of the electrostatic force on a negative point charge at the centre \( \boldsymbol{O} \) of the star is:

  • A. Neither along horizontal or vertical direction,
  • B. Vertically up
  • C. Towards left
  • D. Vertically down

Step-by-step solution

The star shape typically has one vertex at the top and more vertices below, leading to a net downward attractive force on the negative charge at the center. The symmetry about the vertical axis cancels horizontal components, while the vertical components sum to a downward direction.
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