Suppose you have two point charges of equal magnitude (q1=q2=q). but opposite sign (q1=q, q2=-q). How would the potential energy change as the two charges are brought closer together? The potential energy would decrease. The potential energy would increase. The potential energy would remain constant. This is one of the great unsolved mysteries of modern science.
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Step 1: The potential energy (U) between two point charges is given by the formula: $$U = k \frac{q_1 q_2}{r}$$ where k is Coulomb's constant, $q_1$ and $q_2$ are the charges, and r is the distance between them. Show more…
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