Question

A proton and an electron are released from rest, with only the electrostatic force acting. Which of the following statements must be true about them as they move toward each other? (There could be more than one correct choice.) Check all that apply. Check all that apply. Their electric potential energy keeps increasing. Their kinetic energy keeps increasing. Their acceleration keeps decreasing. Their electric potential energy keeps decreasing. Their kinetic energy keeps decreasing.

Answer 1

Their kinetic energy will increase but potential energy will decrease.

Step-by-step explanation:

Given that

Initial velocities of electron and proton is zero.

We know that ,electron have negative charge and proton have positive charge it means that they will attract to each other.We know that opposite charge attract to each other and same charge repels to each other.

It means that the velocities of proton and electron will increase and that leads to increase in the kinetic energy of proton and electron.

We know that potential energy U

`U\alpha -(1)/(r)`

So when r will decrease then U will increase but in negative direction it means that U will decrease.

So we can say that their kinetic energy will increase but potential energy will decrease.