Final answer:
The charge configurations approximation for opposite charges that accurately describes their interaction is when the charges are close together and have opposite signs, as they attract each other and the force between them is inversely related to the square of the distance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept of the charge configurations approximation for opposite charges is centered around understanding electrostatic forces and potential energy between charges. In the context of the options provided, we know that like charges repel and opposite charges attract. Also, the electrostatic force between charges follows an inverse square law, meaning the force decreases with the square of the distance between them. Thus, in practical terms, when we have opposite charges:
- The potential energy is negative, indicating that work can be extracted as the charges move towards each other.
- The electrostatic attraction is stronger when the charges are closer together.
- The charges gain more kinetic energy if they start farther apart and attract each other due to their potential to do work.
Given this information, the charge configurations approximation for opposite charges is best described by the statement that the charges are close together and have opposite signs. This corresponds to option (1).