Question

According to Coulomb's law, if the separation between two particles of the same charge increases four times, the potential energy of the two particles:__________.
a. is one-sixteenth as high as it was before the separation.
b. is four times as high as it was before the distance separation.
c. is one-fourth as high as it was before the separation.
d. does not change.

Answer 1

Answer:

c.   V = k Q1 * Q2 / R1      potential energy of Q1 and Q2 separated by R

V2 / V1 = (R1 / R2) = 1/4

V2 = V1 / 4