Two protons are brought closer together. The electrostatic potential energy of the pair
Correct answer: A. increases, because work must be done against their repulsion
- A. increases, because work must be done against their repulsion
- B. decreases
- C. stays constant
- D. becomes negative
Explanation
Like charges repel, so pushing them together requires work and that work is stored as potential energy, which is why the system flies apart if released. For unlike charges the energy is negative and becomes more negative as they approach, since the force does the work instead. The sign convention takes zero energy to be infinite separation.
Report an error
The more specific you are, the faster it gets fixed. A source beats an opinion.
Prefer email? support@testustad.com
About Electric Potential
Electric potential is the work done per unit positive charge in bringing it from infinity to a point, while potential difference compares energy change between two points. Work includes potential due to point charges, superposition of scalar potentials, equipotential surfaces, and the relation between electric field and potential.
Practise Electrostatics
831 free Electrostatics MCQs from Physics, each with the correct answer and an explanation. Unlimited attempts, no account needed.
Discussion
Stuck on an option, or know a faster way to get there? Ask or explain it here.
No comments yet. Be the first to explain this one.
Exams that ask Physics questions like this
Physics is on 16 papers prepared for on TestUstad, and all of them draw the same bank, so this question is worth knowing for every one of them.
More Electric Potential questions
The relationship between uniform electric field intensity E and potential difference V across a separation d is
An electron volt is the energy gained by an electron when it moves through a potential difference of
The work done in moving a charge between two points on the same equipotential surface is
In bringing an electron towards the second electron, the electrostatic potential energy of the system
The electric P.E of an electron in an orbit at a distance rn from the positive charge_____________?
When two protons are brought together_____________________?