---
title: "Three different configurations, labeled 1, 2, and 3, consist of four point charges fixed at the four vertices of identical squares of side length \\(s\\), as shown.  Configuration 1: Four charges of \\(+q\\) at the vertices. Configuration 2: Charges of \\(+q\\), \\(-q\\), \\(+q\\), and \\(-q\\) arranged in alternating order around the perimeter. Configuration 3: Charges of \\(+q\\), \\(+q\\), \\(-q\\), and \\(-q\\) arranged consecutively around the perimeter.  Which of the following correctly ranks the total electrostatic potential energy \\(U\\) of the three systems from greatest to least?"
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url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/121079/"
date_modified: "2026-08-23T04:57:42+00:00"
---

# Three different configurations, labeled 1, 2, and 3, consist of four point charges fixed at the four vertices of identical squares of side length \(s\), as shown.

Configuration 1: Four charges of \(+q\) at the vertices.
Configuration 2: Charges of \(+q\), \(-q\), \(+q\), and \(-q\) arranged in alternating order around the perimeter.
Configuration 3: Charges of \(+q\), \(+q\), \(-q\), and \(-q\) arranged consecutively around the perimeter.

Which of the following correctly ranks the total electrostatic potential energy \(U\) of the three systems from greatest to least?

Three different configurations, labeled 1, 2, and 3, consist of four point charges fixed at the four vertices of identical squares of side length \(s\), as shown.

Configuration 1: Four charges of \(+q\) at the vertices.
Configuration 2: Charges of \(+q\), \(-q\), \(+q\), and \(-q\) arranged in alternating order around the perimeter.
Configuration 3: Charges of \(+q\), \(+q\), \(-q\), and \(-q\) arranged consecutively around the perimeter.

Which of the following correctly ranks the total electrostatic potential energy \(U\) of the three systems from greatest to least?

![Three identical squares of side length \(s\) arranged horizontally side-by-side, labeled Configuration 1, Configuration 2, and Configuration 3. Each square has a small filled circle at each of its four vertices representing a point charge. In Configuration 1, all four vertices are labeled \(+q\). In Configuration 2, the top-left vertex is labeled \(+q\), top-right is labeled \(-q\), bottom-right is labeled \(+q\), and bottom-left is labeled \(-q\). In Configuration 3, the top-left vertex is labeled \(+q\), top-right is labeled \(+q\), bottom-right is labeled \(-q\), and bottom-left is labeled \(-q\). Each square has a double-headed horizontal arrow along the top edge labeled \(s\). No other labels, lines, text, or axes appear.](https://nerd-notes.com/wp-content/uploads/ubq-frq-generated/stem-fig-1-1787461062-gQgO89.jpg)

- **A.** \(U_1 > U_3 > U_2\)
- **B.** \(U_1 > U_2 > U_3\)
- **C.** \(U_2 > U_3 > U_1\)
- **D.** \(U_3 > U_2 > U_1\)

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/121079/*