Question

A charged particle of 5.1 nC and another with 2.6 nC are separated by a distance of 5.5 m. What is the electric potential energy between the particles?

Answer 1

The electric potential energy between the particles is 2.167 x 10⁻⁸ J

Step-by-step explanation:

Given;

a charged particle, q₁ = 5.1 nC

another charged particle, q₂ = 2.6 nC

distance between the charged particle, r = 5.5 m

The electric potential energy between the charged particles is calculated as;

`U_E = (kq_1q_2)/(r)`

where;

`U_E` is the electric potential energy between the particles

k is coulomb's constant = 8.99 x 10⁹ Nm²/c²

Substitute the given values and solve for electric potential energy;

`U_E = (kq_1q_2)/(r) = (8.99*10^(9)*5.1*10^(-9)*2.6*10^(-9))/(5.5) \\\\U_E = 2.167 *10^(-8) \ J`

Therefore, the electric potential energy between the particles is 2.167 x 10⁻⁸ J