Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2019 / ia / Paper 4 / 10A / b / ii / Solution

Let $\rho =a/\sqrt{3}$ be the distance from the origin to each fixed charge, and denote their position vectors by ${\mathbf{R}}_j$. For a small planar displacement $\mathbf{r}$, the Taylor expansioncan be summed using the threefold symmetry relationsThe electric potential due to the fixed charges is consequentlyThe moving charge has electrostatic potential energy of point charges $U=q\Phi$. Because the quadratic coefficient is positive, the origin is a strict local minimum of $U$, and the equilibrium is stable.