Sort the scenarios described below according to the force that would be exerted

Question

Sort the scenarios described below according to the force that would be exerted on the center charge q. Assume in each case that q is a positive charge.

(the answers in the boxes are wrong, I am not sure which order is correct.) Please help. Thanks!

The net force on q would be. to the left to the right undetermined 4. Tb zero positive g-q-positive c-positive qd-positive qesqd=negative Gesqb=positive -positive Gesqb=negative and qa=Ge=negative and qd negative ga qc-negative a-c-positive and and Gb-qd-posive qd-negative qbsqd-negative Gasqd=negative and c qb-negative

Explanation / Answer

Consider zero force first - this requires the charges n opposite corners be equal to each other so that their forces act opposite each other. So your first two choices are correct. But you can also have qa = qd negative, qb = qc negative and qa = qd positive, qb = qc positive.

Now to have the charge move to the left (if there's a non-zero force, the charge will move) qb and qd have to be negative. qa = qc can be positive or qa = qc can be negative but < qb = qd so there is a net force pointing left. swap it around for the force going right - qa = qc is negative and qb = qd is positive or qb = qd is positive and < qa = qc. If the charges on opposite corners are not equal to each other, then you have to do the math to find the direction the force points. It is not "undetermined", just not easily arrived at

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