Aproton is located at the origin, and a second proton is located on the x-axis at x = 5.22 fm (1 fm = 10-15 m).
(a) calculate the electric potential energy associated with this configuration.(b) an alpha particle (charge = 2e, mass = 6.64 10-27 kg) is now placed at (x, y) = (2.61, 2.61) fm. calculate the electric potential energy associated with this configuration.

(a)

(b)

Step-by-step explanation:

(a)The formula for the electric potential energy is:

Where is the Coulomb's constant and is equal to , and are the charges and is the distance between them. In this case ,.

(b) In systems with three charges, the electric potential energy is the sum of the contribution made by each pair of the charges, i.e.  the electric potential energy of the charges and plus the electric potential energy of the charges and plus the electric potential energy of the charges and .

Since is half of , the charge is at the same distance from as from   and is the hypotenuse of the triangle rectangle with two equal sides of .

step-by-step explanation:

b) well because you get well