In the diagram below, there are three collinear point charges: q1, q2, and q3. The distance between q1 and q2 is the same as that between q2 and q3. You will be asked to rank the Coulomb force on q1 due to q2 and q3.

Rank the six combinations of electric charges on the basis of the electric force acting on q1. Define forces pointing to the right as positive and forces pointing to the left as negative.

(q1=+1nC, q2=-1nC, q3=-1nC), (q1=-1nC, q2=+1nC, q3=+1nC), (q1=+1nC, q2=-1nC, q3=+1nC), (q1=+1nC, q2=+1nC, q3=-1nC), (q1=-1nC, q2=-1nC, q3=-1nC), (q1=+1nC, q2=+1nC, q3=+1nC)

92 93