Three identical positive point charges are located at fixed points in space. Then charge q₂ is moved from its initial location to a final location as shown in the figure. Four different paths, marked (a) through (d), are shown. Path (a) follows the shortest line; path (b) takes q₂ around q₃; path (c) takes q₂ around q₃ and q₁; path (d) takes q₂ out to infinity and then to the final location. Which path requires the least work?

a) path (a)

b) path (b)

c) path (c)

d) path (d)

e) The work is the same for all the paths.

(d) Initial (a) 92 Final (b) (c)