ASPECt
Energy: Forms, Transformation, Transfer, and Conservation
Item RG126002: The electrostatic potential energy of a system of two oppositely charged particles decreases when the particles are moved closer to each other.
Two oppositely charged particles are positioned as pictured in Figure 1. 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?
- The electrostatic potential energy has increased.
- The electrostatic potential energy has decreased.
- The electrostatic potential energy has not changed.
- Additional information is needed to determine the change in electrostatic potential energy.
Answer Choice |
Overall |
Grades |
Gender |
Primary Language |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n = 1135 |
4–5 n = 0 | 6–8 n = 620 |
9–12 n = 515 |
Male n = 555 |
Female n = 555 |
English n = 993 |
Other n = 110 |
|
| A. | 41% | N/A | 39% | 43% | 44% | 38% | 42% | 31% |
| B. | 24% | N/A | 23% | 26% | 23% | 25% | 23% | 33% |
| C. | 22% | N/A | 22% | 21% | 21% | 22% | 21% | 26% |
| D. | 14% | N/A | 16% | 10% | 12% | 15% | 14% | 10% |