A proton moves parallel to an electric field between points A and B. The change in the proton's electric potential energy is EPEB – EPEA. If the proton is removed from point B and replaced with an electron, how does the change in electric potential energy of the electron compare to the change in electric potential energy of the proton as the electron moves from point B to point A?
The change in electric potential energy for the electron is EPEA – EPEB.
The change in electric potential energy for the electron is EPEB – EPEA.
The change in electric potential energy for the electron is EPEB + EPEA.
The change in electric potential energy for the electron is zero joules.
More information is needed concerning the charges involved.
To determine how the change in electric potential energy of the electron compares to the change in electric potential energy of the proton, we need to understand the relationship between electric potential energy and charges.
Electric potential energy is the energy associated with the configuration of charged particles in an electric field. The formula for electric potential energy is given by:
EPE = q * V
where EPE is the electric potential energy, q is the charge of the particle, and V is the electric potential.
In this scenario, the proton has a positive charge (+e) and the electron has a negative charge (-e), where e represents the elementary charge. Since the proton and electron have opposite charges, their electric potential energy values will be of opposite signs.
When the proton moves parallel to an electric field between points A and B, the change in electric potential energy is given by:
ΔEPE = EPEB - EPEA
This indicates that the proton's electric potential energy decreases as it moves from point A to point B.
However, when we replace the proton with an electron and consider its change in electric potential energy as it moves from point B to point A, we need to take into account the charges involved.
Since the electron has a negative charge, the electric potential energy of the electron at point B will be lower (more negative) than that of the proton at point B. Similarly, the electric potential energy of the electron at point A will be lower (more negative) than that of the proton at point A.
Therefore, the change in electric potential energy for the electron can be expressed as:
ΔEPE = EPEA - EPEB
This means that the change in electric potential energy for the electron is opposite to that of the proton. It will increase as the electron moves from point B to point A.
Hence, the correct answer is:
The change in electric potential energy for the electron is EPEA - EPEB.