Two positively charged particles are first brought close together and then released. Once released, the repulsion between particles causes them to move away from each other. b. Does the electrostatic potential energy of the two particles increase or decrease as the distance between them is increased?

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the type of force between the two positively charged particles. Since both particles are positively charged, they repel each other due to electrostatic force.
2. Understand the relationship between electrostatic potential energy and distance in the context of repulsive forces. The electrostatic potential energy (U) between two charges is given by the formula U = k \frac{q_1 q_2}{r}, where k is Coulomb's constant, q_1 and q_2 are the magnitudes of the charges, and r is the distance between the charges.
3. Analyze how the potential energy changes with distance. In the formula, as the distance r increases, the denominator of the fraction increases, causing the overall value of U to decrease.
4. Conclude the effect on electrostatic potential energy as the distance increases. Since the potential energy decreases as the distance between the two positively charged particles increases, the electrostatic potential energy decreases.
5. Apply the conservation of energy principle. The decrease in electrostatic potential energy implies that the system's kinetic energy must increase to conserve the total energy, explaining why the particles accelerate away from each other.

Key Concepts

Electrostatic Potential Energy

Electrostatic potential energy is the energy stored in a system of charged particles due to their positions relative to each other. It is defined as the work done to assemble the charges from infinity to their current positions. For two like charges, this energy is positive and decreases as the distance between them increases, indicating that the system becomes more stable.

Coulomb's Law

Coulomb's Law describes the force between two charged particles, stating that the force is directly proportional to the product of the magnitudes of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. This law explains that like charges repel each other, leading to an increase in distance and a corresponding change in potential energy as they move apart.

Work and Energy Relationship

The relationship between work and energy is fundamental in physics, where work done on a system results in a change in energy. In the context of electrostatics, as two positively charged particles are separated, work is done against the electrostatic force, leading to an increase in potential energy. Thus, as the distance increases, the potential energy of the system also increases.