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If the electrical potential energy of two point charges is U when they are a distance d apart, their potential energy when they are fourfold as far apart will be ________.

A. U/4 B. U/2 C. 2U D. 4U

User Chad N B
by
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1 Answer

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The electric potential energy of the point charges is directly proportional to the charge on the point charged particle and inversely proportional to the distance between the point charges.

Mathematically the general expression is


U_p = (kq_p)/(r_p)

Here,

k = Coulomb's constant


q_p = Charge


r_p = Distance

From the aforementioned consideration we have to


U_p \propto (1)/(r_p)

Between two loading states (final and initial) the expression would become


(U_p)_1 (r_p)_1 = (U_p)_2 (r_p)_2

If the distance between the two points is the double
(r_p)_1 = 2(r_p)_2 we can now write the expression as


(U_p)_1 r_p = (U_p)_2 (2r_p)


(U_p)_2 = ((U_p)_1)/(2)

Therefore te potential energy when the distance between the point charge is double, is U/2.

Therefore the correct answer is B.

User Mauker
by
8.3k points

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