Decide whether each of the following statements about potential energy is correc

Question

Decide whether each of the following statements about potential energy is correct or incorrect. If a statement is correct, give an example that demonstrates this. If it is incorrect, explain why.

a. Potential energy can be either positive or negative.

b. Potential energy is a property of a pair of objects.

c. When two interacting charged objects get very far away from each other, their potential energy approaches zero.

d. A single particle does not have potential energy.

e. A single isolated object can have potential energy.

f. Potential energy is always a positive number.

g. The potential energy of a pair of interacting charged objects increases as the distance between them decreases.

Explanation / Answer

a) Correct.

Based on the nature of the force, that is, whether it is attractive or repulsive, potential energy can be either negative or positive.

b) Correct.

For potential energy to arise, there must be a force and we need at least two particles for this to happen.

c) Correct.

Ideally when they are separated by infinite distance, their potential energy will become zero.

d) Correct.

A single particle alone can not have potential energy. There must be a particle at some distance to exert force on this particle for potential energy to arise.

e) Incorrect.

Explained in b and d.

f) Incorrect.

It can be positive or negative based on the nature of force, that is whether the force is attractive or repulsive.

g) Correct if it is oppositely charged.

Attractive force will create negative potential energy. If we decrease the distance, it will become more negative, that is it will decrease.

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