1 qi q j q2  1 1 1 1 1 1

42.55: a)  U 
4π 0

i j rij
 
4π 0  d
     
r rd rd r d
q2  2 2 1 1 
     
4π 0  r d r  d r  d 
 
1 1 1 1 1 
but     
rd rd r 1  d 1 d 
 
 r r 
1 d d2 d d 2  2 2d 2
 1   2      1   2    3
r r r r r  r r
 2q 2  1 d 2   2 p 2 2 p2
U    3    
4πε0  d r  4πε0 r 3 4πε0 d 3
1 qi q j
b)  U  
4πε0 i j rij
q2  1 1 1 1 1 1
       
4πε0  d r rd rd r d
  2 2 2 2d 2   2 q 2  1 d 2 
q2
     3     
4πε0
 d r r r  4πε0  d r 3 
 2 p2 2 p2
U   .
4πε0 d 3 4πε0 r 3
If we ignore the potential energy involved in forming each individual molecule, which
just involves a different choice for the zero of potential energy, then the answers are:
 2 p2  2 p2
a)  U  . b)  U  . 
4πε0 r 3 4πε0 r 3