According to Coulomb's law, rank the interactions between charged particles from lowest potential energy to highest potential energy. a. a 1+ charge and a 1- charge separated by 100 pm b. a 2+ charge and a 1- charge separated by 100 pm c. a 1+ charge and a 1+ charge separated by 100 pm d. a 1+ charge and a 1- charge separated by 200 pm

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand Coulomb's Law: Coulomb's law states that the force between two point charges is directly proportional to the product of the magnitudes of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. The formula is given by F = k \frac{q_1 q_2}{r^2}, where F is the force, q_1 and q_2 are the charges, r is the distance between the charges, and k is Coulomb's constant.
2. Identify the nature of the charges: Charges can be positive (+) or negative (-). Attractive forces (resulting in lower potential energy) occur between opposite charges, while repulsive forces (resulting in higher potential energy) occur between like charges.
3. Consider the magnitude of the charges: The greater the magnitude of the product of the two charges (|q_1 * q_2|), the stronger the interaction (whether attractive or repulsive), and thus the greater the magnitude of potential energy.
4. Consider the distance between charges: The potential energy is also inversely proportional to the distance between the charges. A smaller distance means higher potential energy for repulsive interactions and lower potential energy for attractive interactions.
5. Rank the interactions: Use the information about the nature, magnitude of charges, and distance to rank the interactions from lowest to highest potential energy. Remember that attractive interactions generally have lower potential energy compared to repulsive interactions at the same distance.

Key Concepts

Coulomb's Law

Coulomb's Law describes the electrostatic interaction between charged particles. It states that the force between two charges 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 helps determine the potential energy associated with the arrangement of charged particles.

Potential Energy of Charged Particles

The potential energy of charged particles is influenced by their charges and the distance separating them. Like charges (both positive or both negative) repel each other, resulting in higher potential energy as they are brought closer together. Conversely, opposite charges attract, leading to lower potential energy as they approach each other.

Distance and Charge Magnitude

The distance between charged particles and the magnitude of their charges are critical factors in determining the strength of their interaction. A greater distance reduces the force and potential energy, while larger charges increase the force and potential energy. Understanding how these factors interplay is essential for ranking interactions based on potential energy.