Science Assessment ~ Topics ~ Energy: Forms, Transformation, Transfer, and Conservation ~ Misconception RGM069

As the distance between two charges increases, the potential energy decreases because the charges are further apart and have less effect on one another (Lindsey, 2014).

Items that test for misconception RGM069 in this project (ASPECt) and key idea (Electrostatic potential energy can …)
Item ID Number	Item Description	How Often the Misconception was Chosen
RG112002	An engineer can increase the electrostatic potential energy of a capacitor by increasing the distance between the two plates.	42%
RG126002	The electrostatic potential energy of a system of two oppositely charged particles decreases when the particles are moved closer to each other.	41%
RG203001	Increasing the distance between two positively charges particles, decreases the amount of electrostatic potential energy in the system because potential energy decreases when the distance between like particles increases.	36%
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.	36%
RG115002	The electrostatic potential energy in a system of two oppositely charged particles is highest while the particles are separated and lowest when they are in contact.	31%
RG204001	Decreasing the distance between two oppositely charges particles, decreases the amount of electrostatic potential energy in the system.	21%

Items that test for misconception RGM069 in this project (ASPECt) and other key ideas
RG113002	As two oppositely charged object move closer to each other, the electrostatic potential energy of the system decreases, and the kinetic energy of the moving object increases.	50%
RG122002	As two oppositely charge particles move closer together, the potential energy decreases, and the kinetic energy increases.	24%