Question

How does the electric potential energy between two charged particles change if one particle is reduced by a factor of 3?

a. increased by a factor of 3
b. it is decreased by a factor of 9
c. it is reduced by a factor of 3
d. it is increased by a factor of 9

Answer 1

The electric potential energy is directly proportional to product of charges, hence when the particle charge is reduced by a factor of 3, the electric potential energy will also be reduced by a factor of 3.

Answer: Option C

Step-by-step explanation:

Electric potential energy is the potential energy which is conservative to the respective coulomb forces between the two particle charges which are at a specified separation from each other.

Electric potential energy =
`(k (q1 q2))/(r)`

Where the k is the electrostatic constant,

q1 is the first charge.

q2 is the second charge.

r is the distance between q1 and q2.