Science Assessment ~ Topics ~ Energy: Forms, Transformation, Transfer, and Conservation ~ Misconception RGM085

The electrostatic potential energy of two charges does not depend on the distance between the charges (AAAS Project 2061, n.d.)

Items that test for misconception RGM085 in this project (ASPECt) and key idea (Electrostatic potential energy can …)
Item ID Number	Item Description	How Often the Misconception was Chosen
RG126002	The electrostatic potential energy of a system of two oppositely charged particles decreases when the particles are moved closer to each other.	22%
RG125002	Decreasing the distance between two positively charges particles, increases the amount of electrostatic potential energy in the system.	22%
RG204001	Decreasing the distance between two oppositely charges particles, decreases the amount of electrostatic potential energy in the system.	19%
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.	19%
RG129002	Decreasing the distance between the two positively charged particles and increasing the magnitude of the charge of the particles would increase the amount of electrostatic potential energy in the system.	19%
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.	16%