Question

Explain the energy changes involved when a positive charge moves because of a nearby, negatively charged object. use the terms electrical potential energy, work, and kinetic energy in your answer.]

Answer 1

The energy changes involved when a positive charge moves because of a nearby, negatively charged object because that is actually similar to when an object falls in a gravitational field, the potential energy of the object will turn in to a kinetic energy. thank you for this question.

Answer 2

Answer:

Work done by the electrostatic force will be positive

Kinetic energy of two charges will increase

Electrostatic potential energy will decrease

Explanation:

Electrostatic potential energy of system of two charges is given as

$U = \frac{kq_1q_2}{r}$

here we know that

$q_1, q_2$ = two charges between which interaction is required

r = distance between two charges

now if it is given that a positive charge is moved due to nearby negative charge

so since we know that negative charge will attracted towards to positive charge due to mutual attraction force between them

so here the force of attraction between them will do positive work to move the two charges near to each other

This work done will increase the kinetic energy of the system of two charges

Since there is no external force on the system of two charges so total mechanical energy will remain conserved and hence we can say if kinetic energy is increasing so electrostatic potential energy will decrease for this system