1. Tardigrade
  2. Question
  3. Physics
  4. A system of two charges separated by a certain distance apart stores electrical potential energy. If the distance between them is increased, the potential energy of the system,

Question Error Report

Thank you for reporting, we will resolve it shortly

Back to Question

Q. A system of two charges separated by a certain distance apart stores electrical potential energy. If the distance between them is increased, the potential energy of the system,

KCETKCET 2019Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance

Solution:

Potential energy of a system of charges is $U=\left(\frac{1}{4 \pi \varepsilon_{0}}\right)\frac{q_{1}q_{2}}{r}$
In case of like charges, $\left(q_{1} q_{2}\right)$ is positive
when r increases, U decreases
In case of unlike charges, $\left(q_{1} q_{2}\right)$ is negative
when r increases, $\left|U\right|$ decreases
but because of negative sign, U increases.