Final answer:
The charged particles with the lowest potential energy according to Coulomb's law are a pair of positive and negative charges that are close together, as they attract each other and potential energy is minimized.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question relates to Coulomb's law which revolve around the interactions between charged particles. According to Coulomb's law, a pair of like charges repel each other whereas positive and negative charges attract each other. The potential energy between two charged particles is lowest when the particles are opposite in charge and close together. Therefore, given the options:
- Like charges (these would repel each other)
- Positive and negative charges at a distance (attractive but not as strong due to distance)
- Positive and negative charges close together (attractive and potential energy is lowest)
- Neutral charges (no electrostatic interaction at all)
The correct answer is: Positive and negative charges close together as they exhibit an attractive force and their potential energy is minimized when they are in close proximity to each other.