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Item RG202001: Decreasing the distance between two positively charges particles, increases the amount of electrostatic potential energy in the system because potential energy increases when the distance between like particles decreases.

Two positively charged particles are positioned as pictured in Figure 1 below. A student moves the particles so that the distance between the two particles is decreased as shown in Figure 2. He secures the particles in place so neither can move. The strength of the charges remains the same the whole time.

Which of the following statements correctly describes the change in electrostatic potential energy of the system of two particles from Figure 1 to Figure 2?

  1. The electrostatic potential energy decreased because potential energy decreases when the distance between any two particles decreases.
  2. The electrostatic potential energy increased because the force between any two particles increases when the distance between them decreases.
  3. The electrostatic potential energy increased because potential energy increases when the distance between like particles decreases.
  4. The electrostatic potential energy did not changed because the only way to change the potential energy of a system of like particles is to change the strength of the charges.
Distribution of Responses
Chart showing distrubtion of responses for Item EG202001
Scale Score for Item Difficulty
(200[Easy]-800[Difficult])
541
Students Responding Correctly
Group Correct Total Percent
Overall 341 1550 22%
Grades
  4–5N/AN/AN/A
  6–8 169 799 21%
  9–12 172 751 23%
Gender
  Male16374322%
  Female17577922%
Primary Language
  English311139922%
  Other2211319%

View data table