Final answer:
An electron approaching a positive nuclear charge does indeed change direction and loses energy, usually emitting a photon in the process, making the statement true.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question relates to how an electron behaves when it approaches a positive nuclear charge. When an electron, which is negatively charged, approaches a positively charged nucleus, it will experience an attractive force. As a result, the electron may change direction, which is essentially what happens when it enters a different orbital closer to the nucleus. This change in direction is associated with a loss in the electron's potential energy, which can be emitted in the form of a photon. Therefore, the statement that an electron approaching a positive nuclear charge changes direction and loses energy is true.
Considering the context of atomic processes, when the nucleus emits a particle with a -1 charge, such as a beta particle (electron) during beta decay, the overall charge of the nucleus increases by +1. This is because the atomic number of the element increases, though this process is not directly related to the behavior of an external electron approaching the nucleus.