Practice question

Given: Four 1 kg masses are at the corners of a square of side 2 m . What is the potential energy of the system? ( G = 6.67 × 10⁻¹¹ N m²/kg² ) These values define the system as per NCERT data. Formula: Pairs: 4 sides ( r = 2 m ), 2 diagonals ( r = 2sqrt2 m ). This is the standard NCERT relation for this phenomenon. Substitution & Calculation: V = -4 G m²/2 - 2 fracG m²²sqrt2 . V = -4 frac6.67 × 10⁻¹¹ × 12 - 2 frac6.67 × 10⁻¹¹ × 12sqrt2 . V = -1.334 × 10⁻¹⁰- 0.471 × 10⁻¹⁰ approx -1.805 × 10⁻¹⁰ J . Result: The computed value matches the expected outcome and confirms the correct choice. Units and powers like J kg⁻¹ K⁻¹, m/s², 10⁻⁵ are properly used as per NCERT.