Question

Suppose you have two point charges of opposite sign. As you move them farther and farther apart, the potential energy of this system relative to infinity:_____________.

(a) stays the same.
(b) Increases.
(c) Decreases.
(d) The answer would depend on the path of motion

Answer 1

(b) Increases

Step-by-step explanation:

The potential energy between two point charges is given as;

`U = F*r = (kq_1q_2)/(r)`

Where;

k is the coulomb's constant

q₁ ans q₂ are the two point charges

r is the distance between the two point charges

Since the two charges have opposite sign;

let q₁ be negative and q₂ be positive

Substitute in these charges we will have

`U = (k(-q_1)(q_2))/(r) \\\\U = - (kq_1q_2)/(r)`

The negative sign in the above equation shows that as the distance between the two charges increases, the potential energy increases as well.

Therefore, as you move the point charges farther and farther apart, the potential energy of this system relative to infinity Increases.