Question

Assertion (A): For three point charges to be in equilibrium, they must be collinear.

Reason (R): One of the three charges must have different polarity than rest of the two.

Options

• Both Assertion and Reason are true and Reason is the correct explanation of Assertion.

• Both Assertion and Reason are true but Reason is not the correct explanation of Assertion.

• Assertion is true but Reason is false.

• Both Assertion and Reason are false.

Answer 1

Both Assertion and Reason are true but Reason is not the correct explanation of Assertion.

Explanation:

Three charges must be collinear so that the forces on each charge act along the same line and can balance.

One charge must have opposite polarity to balance the magnitudes of forces, but this does not explain the need for collinearity.