Question

jamal is playing with magnetic toy vehicles. He has two identical magnetic vehicles (purple and green) on different sides of a center magnet that cannot move. His friend Simone challenges him to move one vehicle one space to the left or the right in order to get the largest increase in potential energy. That means Jamal can move the purple car to point A or point B, or he can move the green car to point C or point D. Explain which movement Jamal should make (which car and which point), and why that movement will result in the largest increase in potential energy. Describe the magnetic force that will act on the vehicle he moves.

Answer 1

Answer:

Since potential energy increases with increase in the separation distance, Jamal should move the toy car that will create the largest separation distance.  The magnetic force that will act on the vehicles as he moves the cars away from each other will decrease because magnetic force is inversely proportional to the separating distance between the cars.

Explanation:

Since potential energy increases with increase in the separation distance, Jamal should move the toy car that will create the largest separation distance.The magnetic force that will act on the vehicles as he moves the cars away from each other will decrease because magnetic force is inversely proportional to the separating distance between the cars.