Why do potential energy decrease as two oppositely charged particles approach each other?
Because there is an increase of attractive forces ...?
It takes work to move them closer together, therefore the potential energy has increased. I do not know why you think it otherwise.
Two oppositely charged particles would accelerate as they approached one another, so their kinetic energy would increase. Since their kinetic energy would increase, and the total of kinetic energy and potential energy is constant, then the potential energy would have to decrease in lockstep with the increase in kinetic energy.
Yes, you are correct. The potential energy between two oppositely charged particles decreases as they approach each other due to the increase in attractive forces between them.
The potential energy between two charged particles can be calculated using the formula:
PE = k * (Q1 * Q2) / r
Where:
PE is the potential energy between the particles,
k is the electrostatic constant (9 x 10^9 Nm^2/C^2),
Q1 and Q2 are the charges of the particles, and
r is the distance between the particles.
As the particles get closer together, the distance (r) decreases, resulting in a decrease in the denominator of the formula. Since the distance is in the denominator, a smaller value of r leads to a larger overall value for the potential energy. Therefore, as the particles approach each other, the potential energy decreases.
That's correct! When two oppositely charged particles approach each other, their potential energy decreases because of the increase in attractive forces between them.
To understand this concept further, we can break it down into the following steps:
1. Start with the definition of potential energy: Potential energy is the stored energy an object possesses due to its position or state.
2. In the case of two oppositely charged particles, for example, a positively charged particle (q1) and a negatively charged particle (q2), they initially have a certain amount of potential energy since they have a specific separation distance between them.
3. According to Coulomb's law, the force between two charged particles is directly proportional to the product of their charges (q1 and q2) and inversely proportional to the square of the distance (r) between them: F = k * (q1 * q2) / r^2. Here, k is the electrostatic constant.
4. As the particles approach each other, the distance (r) between them decreases, resulting in an increase in the attractive force between them.
5. Due to this increase in attractive forces, work is done to bring the particles closer together. This work is equal to the decrease in potential energy.
6. As the particles continue to approach each other, the potential energy decreases further, reaching a minimum value when they are in close proximity.
Therefore, the potential energy decreases as two oppositely charged particles approach each other because of the increase in attractive forces between them, which is in accordance with Coulomb's law.