Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach with Modern Physics (4th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0133942651
ISBN 13: 978-0-13394-265-1

Chapter 25 - The Electric Potential - Stop to Think 25.2 - Page 694: 1

Answer

b=d>a=c

Work Step by Step

This is because the formula for the potential energy $U=\frac{Kq_{1}q_{2}}{r}$. As you can see, this is directly proportional to each charge and to $\frac{1}{r}$. Calling each plus sign a charge of +1 we find that: a. $U=\frac{1*1*K}{r}=\frac{K}{r}$ b. $U=\frac{2*1*K}{r}=\frac{2K}{r}$ c. $U=\frac{2*1*K}{2r}=\frac{K}{r}$ d. $U=\frac{2*2*K}{2r}=\frac{2K}{r}$ From this we see that b=d>a=c
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