ASPECt
Energy: Forms, Transformation, Transfer, and Conservation
Item RG122002: As two oppositely charge particles move closer together, the potential energy decreases, and the kinetic energy increases.
A negatively charged particle, Particle A, is traveling at a constant speed in a straight line. It gets close to a positively charged particle, Particle B, as shown below.
The two particles are attracted to each other and begin to move toward each other. Which of the following statements correctly describes any changes in the potential energy and kinetic energy of the system of particles as they move toward each other?
- The potential energy and kinetic energy both increase.
- The potential energy stays the same, and the kinetic energy increases.
- The potential energy decreases, and the kinetic energy increases.
- The potential energy and kinetic energy both stay the same.
Answer Choice |
Overall |
Grades |
Gender |
Primary Language |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n = 1495 |
4–5 n = 0 | 6–8 n = 810 |
9–12 n = 685 |
Male n = 720 |
Female n = 753 |
English n = 1350 |
Other n = 110 |
|
| A. | 24% | N/A | 24% | 24% | 23% | 25% | 24% | 27% |
| B. | 28% | N/A | 30% | 27% | 29% | 28% | 28% | 30% |
| C. | 37% | N/A | 35% | 40% | 37% | 36% | 38% | 25% |
| D. | 11% | N/A | 12% | 9% | 11% | 11% | 10% | 17% |