Physics Technology Update (4th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0-32190-308-0
ISBN 13: 978-0-32190-308-2

Chapter 20 - Electric Potential and Electric Potential Energy - Conceptual Questions - Page 716: 8

Answer

Please see the work below.

Work Step by Step

Let the electric energy for the first charge be: $U_1=q_1V_1$ and for the second charge: $U_2=q_2V_2$ but given that $V_1=V_2=V$ $\implies U_1=q_1V$ and $U_2=q_2V$ Now, comparing these two equations, we have $U_1=U_2$ $\implies q_1V=q_2V$ This simplifies to: $q_1=q_2$ Thus, the electric potential energy for the two charges is the same if $q_1=q_2$, that is, if they are equal in magnitude.
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