Four charges are arranged at the corners of a square 
of side d, as shown in the figure. The work required to put together this arrangement is
Text Solution
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Suppose, first the charge +q is brought to A and then the charges 
and -q are brought to B, C and D, respectively. The total work needed can be calculated in steps
(i) Work needed to bring charge +q to A, when no charge is present elsewhere is zero.
(ii) Work needed to bring -q to B when +q is at A. This is given by (charge at 
electrostatic potential at B due to charge +q at A)
(iii) Work needed to bring charge +q to C when +q is at A and -q is at B. This is given by (charge at 
) 
(potential at C due to charges at A and B)
(iv) Work needed to bring -q to D when +q at 
at B and +q at C. This is given by (charge at 
(potential at D due to charges at A, B and C)
Adding the work done in steps (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv), the total work required is
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