Three identical positive point charges are placed at the vertices A, B and C of an equilateral triangle and released simultaneously. D is the midpoint of BC. Which statement correctly gives the initial directions of acceleration of the charges at A and B?
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Question

Three identical positive point charges are placed at the vertices A, B and C of an equilateral triangle and released simultaneously. D is the midpoint of BC. Which statement correctly gives the initial directions of acceleration of the charges at A and B?

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G1 Physics · Accepted Answer

At A, the repulsive forces due to B and C are equal and symmetric about median AD, so their resultant is along DA, directed away from D. At B, the equal repulsive forces due to A and C are separated by 60°, so their resultant lies along the angle bisector of those force directions, i.e. the external angle bisector at B.