The system of two protons and one electron is represented in the given figure. - 1.6 x 10-19C
Charge on proton 1, q1 = 1.6 X 10-19C
Charge on proton 2, q2 = 1.6 X 10-19C
Charge on electron, q3 = -1.6 x 10-10 m
Distance between protons 1 and 2, d1 = 1.5 x 10-10
Distance between proton 1 and electron, d2 1 x 10-10 m Distance
between proton 2 and electron, d3 = 1 x 10-10 m
The potential energy at infinity is zero.
The potential energy of the system,
V=q1q24πϵ0d1+q2q34πϵ0d3+q3q14πϵ0d2 Substituting 14πϵ0=9×10∘Nm2C−2,we obtain
V=9×109×10−19×10−1910−10[−(16)2+(1.6)21.5+−(1.6)2]=−30.7×10−19 J=−19.2eV
Therefore, the potential energy of the system is -19.2 ev.