Final answer:
The change in electrostatic potential energy for a charged particle is found by multiplying its charge by the potential difference. For an electron, proton, or singly ionized helium atom, this is calculated using the formula ΔPE = qΔV, while a neutral hydrogen atom experiences no change because it has no charge.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question involves calculating the change in electrostatic potential energy as a charged particle moves between two points with different electric potentials. The particle types mentioned are an electron, a proton, a neutral hydrogen atom, and a singly ionized helium atom.
To find the change in potential energy (ΔPE) for a charge moving in an electric field, we use the formula ΔPE = qΔV, where q is the charge of the particle and ΔV is the potential difference. The potential difference here is ΔV = VB - VA = (-25.9 V) - (11.3 V) = -37.2 V.
For an electron (q = -1.60 × 10^-19 C), the change in potential energy will be ΔPE = (-1.60 × 10^-19 C) × (-37.2 V) = 5.952 × 10^-18 J.
The same calculation applies to the proton and the singly ionized helium atom, except using the charge of a proton (+1.60 × 10-19 C) for both, as they have the same charge but different masses. For the neutral hydrogen atom, the charge (q) is zero, so there will be no change in electrostatic potential energy regardless of the potential difference.